EULOGY 


ON  ' 


AS   PRONOUNtJED    AT   THE    ODEON, 


IN  FEDERAL  STREET,  BOSTON, 


BY  THE  REV.  WILLIAM  APES,  AN  INDIAN. 


Who  shall  stand  in  after  years  in  this  famous  temple,  and  declare 
that  Indian*  are  not  men  !  if  men,  then  heirs  to  the  same  inheritance. 


BOSTOX: 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  AUTHOR. 

1836. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-six,  by  WILLIAM  APES, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


IB 

,:.,-/.,./..   .  .'-.,    >      * 

ADDRESS,  &c. 


I  DO  not  arise  to  spread  before  you  the  fame  of  a 
noted  warrior,  whose  natural  abilities  shone  like  those  of 
the  great  and  mighty  PHILLIP  of  Greece,  or  of  ALEX 
ANDER  the  Great,  or  like  those  of  WASHINGTON, — 
whose  virtues  and  patriotism  are  engraven  on  the  hearts 
of  my  audience. .  Neither  do  I  approve  of  war  as  being 
the  best  method  of  bowing  the  haughty  tyrant,  MAN, 
and  civilizing  the  world.  No,  far  from  me  be  such  a 
thought.  But  it  is  to  bring  before  you  beings,  made  by 
the  GOD  of  Nature,  and  in  whose  hearts  and  heads  he 
has  planted  sympathies  that  shall  live  forever  in  the 
memory  of  the  world,  whose  brilliant  talents  shone 
in  the  display  of  natural  things,  so  that  the  most  culti 
vated,  whose  powers  shone  with  equal  lustre,  were  not 
able  to  prepare  mantles  to  cover  the  burning  elements 
of  an  uncivilized  world.  What,  then,  shall  we  cease 
to  mention  the  mighty  of  the  earth,  the  noble  work  of 
GOD? 

Yet  those  purer  virtues  remain  untold.  Those  noble 
traits  that  marked  the  wild  man's  course  lie  buried  in 
the  shades  of  night ;  and  who  shall  stand  ?  I  appeal 
to  the  lovers  of  liberty.  But  those  few  remaining 
descendants  who  now  remain  as  the  monument  of  the 
1* 


M530823 


6 

cruelty  of  those  who  came  to  improve  our  race,  and 
correct  our  errors;  and  as  the  immortal  Washington 
lives  endeared  and  engraven  on  the  hearts  of  every 
white  in  America,  never  to  be  forgotten  in  time, — even 
such  is  the  immortal  PHILIP  honored,  as  held  in 
memory  by  the  degraded,  but  yet  grateful  descendants, 
who  appreciate  his  character ;  so  will  every  patriot, 
especially  in  this  enlightened  age,  respect  the  rude  yet 
all-accomplished  son  of  the  forest,  that  died  a  martyr 
to  his  cause,  though  unsuccessful,  yet  as  glorious  as  the 
American  Revolution.  Where,  then,  shall  we  place 
the  hero  of  the  wilderness  ? 

Justice  and  humanity  for  the  remaining  few  prompt 
me  to  vindicate  the  character  of  him  who  yet  lives  in 
their  hearts,  and,  if  possible,  melt  the  prejudice  that 
exists  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  are  in  the  possession 
of  his  soil,  and  only  by  the  right  of  conquest — is  the  aim 
of  him  who  proudly  tells  you,  the  blood  of  a  denomi 
nated  savage  runs  in  his  veins.  It  is,  however,  true, 
that  there  are  many  who  are  said  to  be  honorable 
warriors,  who,  in  the  wisdom  of  their  civilized  legisla 
tion,  think  it  no  crime  to  reek  their  vengeance  upon 
whole  nations  and  communities,  until  the  fields  are 
covered  with  blood,  and  the  rivers  turned  into  purple 
fountains,  while  groans,  like  distant  thunder,  are  heard 
from  the  wounded,  and  the  tens  of  thousands  of  the 
dying,  leaving  helpless  families  depending  on  their 
cares  and  sympathies  for  life;  while  a  loud  response  is 
heard  floating  through  the  air  from  the  ten  thousand 
Indian  children  and  orphans,  who  are  left  to  rnourn  the 
honorable  acts  of  a  few — civilized  men. 


Now,  if  we  have  common  sense  and  ability  to  allow 
the  difference  between  the  civilized  and  the  uncivil 
ized,  we  cannot  but  see  that  one  mode  of  warfare  is  as 
just  as  the  other;  for,  while  one  is  sanctioned  by 
authority  of  the  enlightened  and  cultivated  men,  the 
other  is  an  agreement  according  to  the  pure  laws  of 
nature,  growing  out  of  natural  consequences;  for 
nature  always  has  her  defence  for  every  beast  of  the 
6eld ;  even  the  reptiles  of  the  earth  and  the  fishes  of 
the  sea  have  their  weapons  of  war.  But  though  frail 
man  was  made  for  a  nobler  purpose, — to  live,  to  love 
and  adore  his  God,  and  do  good  to.  his  brother;  for  this 
reason,  and  this  alone,  the  GOD  of  heaven  prepared 
ways  and  means  to  blast  anger,  man's  destroyer,  and 
cause  the  Prince  of  Peace  to  rule,  that  man  might 
swell  those  blessed  notes,  My  image  is  of  God,  I  am 
not  a  beast. 

But  as  aii  men  are  governed  by  animal  passions 
who  are  void  of  the  true  principles  of  GOD,  whether 
cultivated  or  uncultivated,  we  shall  now  lay  before  you 
the  true  charac  ter  of  PHILIP,  in  relation  to  those  hos 
tilities  between  himself  and  the  whites,  and  in  so  doing 
permit  me  to  be  plain  and  candid. 

The  first  inquiry  is,  Who  is  PHILIP?  He  was  the 
descendant  of  one  of  the  most  celebrated  chiefs  in  the 
known  world,  for  peace  and  universal  benevolence 
towards  all  men  ;  for  injuries  upon  injuries,  and  the 
most  daring  robberies  and  barbarous  deeds  of  death 
that  were  ever  committed  by  the  American  Pilgrims, 
were  with  patience  and  resignation  borne,  in  a  manner 
that  would  do  justice  to  any  Christian  nation  or  being 


s 

in  the  world, — especially  when  we  realize  that  it  was 
voluntary  suffering  on  the  part  of  the  good  old  chief. 
His  country  extensive — his  men  numerous,  so  as  the 
wilderness  was  enlivened  by  them,  say  a  thousand  to 
one  of  the  white  men,  and  they,  also,  sick  and  feeble — 
where,  then,  shall  we  find  one  nation  submitting  so 
tamely  to  another,  with  such  a  host  at  their  command  ? 
For  injuries  of  much  less  magnitude  have  the  people 
called  Christians  slain  their  brethren,  till  they  could 
sing,  like  Sampson,  With  a  jaw  bone  of  an  ass  have 
we  slain  our  thousands,  and  laid  them  in  heaps.  It 
will  be  well  for  us  to  lay  those  deeds  and  depredations 
committed  by  whites  upon  Indians,  before  the  civilized 
world,  and  then  they  can  judge  for  themselves. 

It  appears  from  history  that  in  1614,  '''There  came 
one  Henry  Harley  unto  me,  bringing  with  him  a  native 
of  the  Island  of  Capawick,  a  place  at  the  south  of 
Cape  Cod,  whose  name  was  Epenuel.  This  man  was 
taken  upon  the  main  by  force,  with  some  twenty-nine 
others,"  very  probably  good  old  Massasoit's  men — see 
Harlow's  Voyage,  1611,  "by  a  ship,  and  carried  to 
London,  and  from  thence  to  be  sold  for  slaves  among 
the  Spaniards ;  but  the  Indians  being  too  shrewd, 
or,  as  they  say,  unapt  for  their  use,  they  refused  to 
traffic  in  Indians'  blood  and  bones."  This  inhuman 
act  of  the  whites  caused  the  Indians  to  be  jealous 
forever  afterwards,  which  the  white  man  acknowledges 
upon  the  first  pages  of  the  history  of  his  country.  (See 
Drake's  Hist,  of  the  Indians,  page  7.) 

How  inhuman  it  was  in  those  wretches,  to  come  into 
a  country  where  nature  shone  in  beauty,  spreading 


9 

her  wings  over  the  vast  continent,  sheltering  beneath 
her  shades  those  natural  sons  of  an  Almighty  Being, 
that  shone  in  grandeur  and  lustre  like  stars  of  the  first 
magnitude  in  the  heavenly  world  ;  whose  virtues  far 
surpassed  their  more  enlightened  foes,  notwithstanding 
their  pretended  zeal  for  religion  and  virtue.  How  they 
could  go  to  work  to  enslave  a  free  people,  and  call  it 
religion,  is  beyond  the  power  of  my  imagination,  and 
oiit-strips  the  revelation  of  God's  word.  Oh,  thou 
pretended  hypocritical  Christian,  whoever  thou  art,  to 
say  it  was  the  design  of  God,  that  we  should  murder  and 
slay  one  another,  because  we  have  the  power.  Power 
was  not  given  us  to  abuse  each  other,  but  a  mere  power 
delegated  to  us  by  the  King  of  heaven,  a  weapon  of  de 
fence  against  error  and  evil ;  and  when  abused,  it  will 
turn  to  our  destruction.  Mark,  then,  the  history  of 
nations  throughout  the  world. 

But  notwithstanding  the  transgression  of  this  power 
to  destroy  the  Indians  at  their  first  discovery,  yet  it  does 
appear  that  the  Indians  had  a  wish  to  be  friendly. 
When  the  pilgrims  came  among  them,  (!YANOCGH'S 
men,)  there  appeared  an  old  woman,  breaking  out  in 
solemn  lamentations,  declaring  one  Capt.  Hunt  had 
carried  off  three  of  her  children,  and  they  would  never 
return  here.  The  pilgrims  .replied,  that  they  were  bad 
and  wicked  men,  but  they  were  going  to  do  better,  and 
would  never  injure  them  at  all.  And  to  pay  the  poor 
mother,  gave  her  a  few  brass  trinkets,  to  atone  for  her 
three  sons,  and  appease  her  present  feelings,  a  woman 
nearly  one  hundred  years  of  age.  Oh,  white  woman  ! 
what  would  you  think,  if  some  foreign  nation,  unknown 


10 

to  you,  should  come  and  carry  away  from  you  three 
lovely  children,  whom  you  had  dandled  on  the  knee, 
and  at  some  future  time  you  should  behold  them,  and 
break  forth  in  sorrow,  with  your  heart  broken,  and 
merely  ask,  sirs,  where  are  my  little  ones,  and  some 
one  should  reply,  it  was  passion,  great  passion  ;  what 
would  you  think  of  them  ?  Should  you  not  think  they 
were  beings  made  more  like  rocks  than  men.  Yet 
these  same  men  came  to  these  Indians  for  support,  and 
acknowledge  themselves,  that  no  people  could  be  used 
better  than  they  were  ;  that  their  treatment  would  do 
honor  to  any  nation  ;  that  their  provisions  were  in 
abundance  ;  that  they  gave  them  venison,  and  sold 
them  many  hogsheads  of  corn  to  fill  their  stores,  be 
sides  beans.  This  was  in  the  year  1622.  Had  it  not 
been  for  this  humane  act  of  the  Indians,  every  white 
man  would  have  been  swept  from  the  New  England 
colonies.  In  their  sickness  too,  the  Indians  were  as 
tender  to  them  as  to  their  own  children  ;  and  for  all 
this,  they  were  denounced  as  savages  by  those  who  had 
received  all  the  acts  of  kindness  they  possibly  could 
show  them.  After  these  social  acts  of  the  Indians  to 
wards  those  who  were  suffering,  and  those  of  their  coun 
trymen,  who  well  knew  the  care  their  brethren  had  re 
ceived  by  them  :  how  were  the  Indians  treated  before 
that  ?  Oh,  hear  !  In  the  following  manner,  and  their 
own  words,  we  presume,  they  will  not  deny. 

December,  (O.  S.)  1620,  the  pilgrims  landed  at 
Plymouth,  tmd  without  asking  liberty  from  any  one, 
they  possessed  themselves  of  a  portion  of  the  country, 
and  built  themselves  houses,  and  then  made  a  treaty, 
and  commanded  them  to  accede  to  it.  This,  if  now 


11 

done,  would  be  called  an  insult,  and  every  white  man 
would  be  called  to  go  out  and  act  the  part  of  a  patriot, 
to  defend  their  country's   rights ;  and  if  every  intruder 
were  butchered,  it  would  be  sung  upon  every  hill-top 
in  the  Union,  that  victory  and  patriotism  was  the  order 
of  the  day.     And  yet  the  Indians,  (though  many  were 
dissatisfied,)  without  the  shedding  of  blood,  or  impris 
oning  any  one,  bore  it.       And  yet  for  their  kindness 
and  resignation  towards  the  whites,  they  were  called 
savages,  and  made  by  God  on  purpose  for  them  to  de 
stroy.     We  might  say,  God  understood  his  work  better 
than  this.     But  to  proceed,  it  appears  that  a  treaty  was 
made  by  the  pilgrims  and  the  Indians,  which  treaty  was 
kept  during  forty  years  ;  the  young  chiefs  during  this 
time,  was  showing  the   pilgrims  how  to  live  in  their 
country,  and  find  support  for  their  wives  and  little  ones  ; 
and  for  all  this,  they  were  receiving  the   applauses   of 
being  savages.    The  two  gentlemen  chiefs  were  Squanto 
and  Samoset,  that  were  so  good  to  the  pilgrims. 

The  next  we  present  before  you  are  things  very 
appalling.  We  turn  our  attention  to  dates,  1623, 
January  and  March,  when  Mr.  Wreston  Colony,  came 
very  near  starving  to  death  ;  some  of  them  were  oblig 
ed  to  hire  themselves  to  the  Indians,  to  become  their 
servants,  in  order  that  they  might  live.  Their  principal 
work  was  to  bring  wood  and  water  ;  but  not  being  con 
tented  with  this,  many  of  the  whites  sought  to  steal  the 
Indian's  corn  ;  and  because  the  Indians  complained  of 
it,  and  through  their  complaint,  some  one  of  their  num 
ber  being  punished,  as  they  say,  to  appease  the  sava 
ges.  3\ow  let  us  see  who  the  greatest  savages  were  ; 


12 

the  person  that  stole  the  corn  was  a  stout  athletic  man, 
and  because  of  this,  they  wished  to  spare  him,  and  take 
an  old  man  who  was  lame  and  sickly,  and  that  used  to 
get  his  living  by  weaving,  and  because  they  thought  he 
would  not  be  of  so  much  use  to  them,  he  was,  although 
innocent  of  any  crime,  hung  in  his  stead.  Oh,  savage, 
where  art  thou,  to  weep  over  the  Christian's  crimes. 
Another  act  of  humanity  for  Christians,  as  they  call 
themselves,  that  one  Capt.  Standish,  gathering  some 
fruit  and  provisions,  goes  forward  with  a  black  and  hypo 
critical  heart,  and  pretends  to  prepare  a  feast  for  the 
Indians  ;  and  when  they  sit  down  to  eat,  they  seize  the 
Indian's  knives  hanging  about  their  necks,  and  stab 
them  to  the  heart.  The  white  people  call  this  stabbing, 
feasting  the  savages.  We  suppose  it  might  well  mean 
themselves,  their  conduct  being  more  like  savages  than 
Christians.  They  took  one  Wittumumet,  the  Chief's 
head,  and  put  it  upon  a  pole  in  their  fort ;  and  for  aught 
we  know,  gave  praise  to  their  God  for  success  in  mur 
dering  a  poor  Indian  ;  for  we  know  it  was  their  usual 
course  to  s;ive  praise  to  God  for  this  kind  of  victory, 
believing  it  was  God's  will  and  command,  for  them  to 
do  so.  We  wonder  if  these  same  Christians  do  not 
think  it  the  command  of  God,  that  they  should  lie^ 
steal,  and  get  drunk,  commit  fornication  and  adultery. 
The  one  is  as  consistent  as  the  other.  What  say  you, 
judges,  is  it  not  so,  and  was  it  not  according  as  they 
did  ?  Indians  think  it  is. 

But  we  will  proceed  to  show  another  inhuman  act. 
The  whites  robbed  the  Indian  graves,  and  their  corn, 
about  the  year  1632,  which  caused  CHICATAUBUT  to 


IS 

be  displeased,  who  was  chief,  and  also  a  son  to  the 
woman  that  was  dead.  And  according  to  the  Indian 
custom  it  was  a  righteous  act  to  be  avenged  of  the 
dead.  Accordingly  he  called  all  his  men  together,  and 
addressed  them  thus :  "  When  last  the  glorious  light 
of  the  sky  was  underneath  this  globe,  and  birds  grew 
silent,  I  began  to  settle,  as  is  my  custom,  to  take  re 
pose.  Before  my  eyes  were  fast  closed,  methought  I 
saw  a  vision,  at  which  my  spirit  was  much  troubled. 
A  spirit  cried  aloud,  Behold,  my  son,  whom  I  have 
cherished,  see  the  paps  that  gave  thee  suck,  the  hands 
that  clasped  thee  warm,  and  fed  thee  oft.  Can  thou 
forget  to  take  revenge  of  those  wild  people  that  have 
my  monument  defaced  in  a  despiteful  manner,  disdain 
ing  our  ancient  antiquities  and  honorable  customs? 
See,  now,  the  Sachem's  grave  lies,  like  unto  the  com 
mon  people  of  ignoble  race,  defaced.  Thy  mother 
doth  complain,  and  implores  thy  aid  against  these 
thievish  people,  now  come  hither.  If  this  be  suffered, 
I  shall  not  rest  quiet  within  my  everlasting  habitation." 
War  was  the  result.  And  where  is  there  a  people  in 
the  world  that  would  see  their  friends  robbed  of  their 
common  property,  their  nearest  and  dearest  friends ; 
robbed,  after  their  last  respects  to  them?  I  appeal  to 
you,  who  valae  your  friends,  and  affectionate  mothers, 
if  you  would  have  them  robbed  of  their  fine  marble, 
and  your  storehouses  broken  open,  without  calling 
those  to  account,  who  did  it?  I  trow  not;  and  if 
another  nation  should  come  to  these  regions,  and  begin 
to  rob  and  plunder  all  that  came  in  their  way,  would 
not  the  orators  of  the  day  be  called  to  address  the 

c\ 


14 

people,  and  arouse  them  to  war,  for  such  insults?  and, 
for  all  this,  would  they  not  be  called  Christians  and 
patriots  ?  Yes,  it  would  be  rung  from  Georgia  to 
Maine,  from  the  Ocean  to  the  lakes,  what  fine  men  and 
Christians  there  were  in  the  land.  But  when  a  few 
red  children  attempt  to  defend  their  rights,  they  are 
condemned  as  savages,  by  those,  if  possible,  who  have 
indulged  in  wrongs  more  cruel  than  the  Indians. 

But  there  is  still  more.  In  1619  a  number  of  In 
dians  went  on  board  of  a  ship,  by  order  of  their  chief, 
and  the  whites  set  upon  them,  and  murdered  them 
without  mercy ;  says  Mr.  Dermer,  "  without  the  In 
dians  giving  them  the  least  provocation  whatever." 
Is  this  insult  to  be  borne,  and  not  a  word  to  be  said? 
Truly,  Christians  would  never  bear  it;  why,  then, 
think  it  strange  that  the  denominated  savages  do  not? 
Oh,  thou  white  Christian,  look  at  acts  that  honored 
your  countrymen,  to  the  destruction  of  thousands,  for 
much  less  insults  than  that.  And  who,  my  dear  sirs, 
were  wanting  of  the  name  of  savages — whites,  or 
Indians  ?  Let  justice  answer. 

But  we  have  more  to  present ;  and  that  is,  the 
violation  of  a  treaty  that  the  Pilgrims  proposed  for  the 
Indians  to  subscribe  to,  and  they  the  first  to  break  it. 
The  Pilgrims  promised  to  deliver  up  every  transgressor 
of  the  Indian  treaty,  to  them,  to  be  punished  according 
to  their  laws,  and  the  Indians  were  to  do  likewise. 
Now  it  appears  that  an  Indian  had  committed  treason, 
by  conspiring  against  the  king's  life,  which  is  punishable 
with  death  ;  and  MASSASOIT  makes  demand  for  the 
transgressor,  and  the  Pilgrims  refuse  to  give  him  up, 


15 

although  by  their  oath  of  alliance  they  had  promised 
to  do  so.  Their  reasons  were,  he  was  beneficial  to 
them.  This  shows  how  grateful  they  were  to  their 
former  safeguard,  and  ancient  protector.  Now,  who 
would  have  blamed  this  venerable  old  chief  if  he  had  de 
clared  war  at  once,  and  swept  the  whole  colonies  away  ? 
It  was  certainly  in  his  power  to  do  it,  if  he  pleased; 
but  no,  he  forbore,  and  forgave  the  whites.  But  where 
is  there  a  people,  called  civilized,  that  would  do  it?  we 
presume,  none;  and  we  doubt  not  but  the  Pilgrims 
would  have  exerted  all  their  powers  to  be  avenged, 
and  to  appease  their  ungodly  passions.  But  it  will  be 
seen  that  this  good  old  chief  exercised  more  Christian 
forbearance  than  any  of  the  governors  of  that  age,  or 
since.  It  might  well  be  said  he  was  a  pattern  for  the 
Christians  themselves ;  but  by  the  Pilgrims  he  is  de 
nounced,  as  being  a  savage. 

It  does  not  appear  that  MASSASOIT  or  his  sons  were 
respected  because  they  were  human  beings,  but  because 
they  feared  him  ;  and  we  are  led  to  believe  that  if  it 
had  been  in  the  power  of  the  Pilgrims,  they  would 
have  butchered  them  out  and  out  notwithstanding  all 
the  piety  they  professed.  Only  look  for  a  few  mo 
ments  at  the  abuses  the  son  of  MASSASOIT  received. 
ALEXANDER  being  sent  for  with  armed  men,  and  while 
he  and  his  men  were  breaking  their  fast  in  the  morn 
ing,  they  were  taken  immediately  away,  by  order  of 
the  governor,  without  the  least  provocation,  but  merely 
through  suspicion.  ALEXANDER  and  his  men  saw 
them,  and  might  have  prevented  it,  but  did  not,  say 
ing  the  governor  had  no  occasion  to  treat  him  in  this 


16 

manner  ;  and  the  heartless  wretch  informed  him  that 
he  would  murder  him  upon  the  spot,  if  he  did  not  go 
with  him,  presenting  a  sword  at  his  breast ;  and  had 
it  not  been  for  one  of  his  men  he  would  have  yielded 
himself  up  upon  the  spot.  ALEXANDER  was  a  man  of 
strong  passion,  and  of  a  firm  mind  ;  and  this  insulting 
treatment  of  him  caused  him  to  fall  sick  of  a  fever,  so 
that  he  never  recovered.  Some  of  the  Indians  were 
suspicious  that  he  was  poisoned  to  death.  He  died  in 
the  year  1662.  "  After  him,"  says  that  eminent  di 
vine,  Dr.  Mather,  "  there  rose  up  one  PHILIP,  of 
cursed  memory."  Perhaps  if  the  Dr.  was  present,  he 
would  find  that  the  memory  "of  PHILIP  was  as  far 
before  his,  in  the  view  of  sound,  judicious  men,  as  the 
sun  is  before  the  stars,  at  noonday.  But  we  might 
suppose  that  men  like  Dr.  Mather,  so  well  versed  in 
Scripture,  would  have  known  his  work  better  than 
to  have  spoken  evil  of  any  one,  or  have  cursed  any  of 
GOD'S  works.  He  ought  to  have  known  that  GOD 
did  not  make  his  red  children  for  him  to  curse;  but  if 
he  wanted  them  cursed,  he  could  have  done  it  himself. 
But,  on  the  contrary,  his  suffering  Master  commanded 
him  to  love  his  enemies,  and  to  pray  for  his  persecu 
tors,  and  to  do  unto  others  as  he  would  that  men  should 
do  unto  him.  JNow,  we  wonder  if  the  sons  of  the 
Pilgrims  would  like  to  have  us,  poor  Indians,  come  out 
and  curse  the  Doctor,  and  all  their  sons,  as  we  have 
been,  by  many  of  them.  And  suppose  that,  in  some 
future  day,  our  children  should  repay  all  these  wrongs, 
would  it  not  be  doing  as  we,  poor  Indians,  have  been 


17 

done  to?     But  we  sincerely  hope  there  is  more  hu 
manity  in  us,  than  that. 

In  the  history  of  MASSASOIT  we  find  that  his  own 
head  men  were  not  satisfied  with  the  Pilgrims ;  that 
they  looked  upon  them  to  be  intruders,  and  had  a  wish 
to  expel  those  intruders  out  of  their  coast;  and  no 
wonder  that  from  the  least  reports  the  Pilgrims  were 
ready  to  take  it  up.  A  false  report  was  made  respect 
ing  one  TISQUANTUM,  that  he  was  murdered  by  an 
Indian,  one  of  COUBANTANT'S  men.  Upon  this  news, 
one  Standish,  a  vile  and  malicious  fellow,  took  fourteen 
of  his  lewd  Pilgrims  with  him,  and  at  midnight,  when 
a  deathless  silence  reigned  throughout  the  wilderness ; 
not  even  a  bird  is  heard  to  send  forth  her  sweet  songs 
to  charm  and  comfort  those  children  of  the  woods;  but 
all  had  taken  their  rest,  to  commence  anew  on  the 
rising  of  the  glorious  sun.  But  to  their  sad  surprise 
there  was  no  rest  for  them,  but  they  were  surrounded 
by  ruffians  and  assassins;  yes,  assassins;  what  better 
name  can  be  given  them  ?  At  that  late  hour  of  the 
night,  meeting  a  house  in  the  wilderness,  whose  inmates 
were  nothing  but  a  few  helpless  females  and  children  ; 
soon  a  voice  is  heard — Move  not,  upon  the  peril  of 
your  life.  I  appeal  to  this  audience  if  there  was  any 
righteousness  in  their  proceedings?  Justice  would  say 
no.  At  the  same  time  some  of  the  females  were  so 
frightened,  that  some  of  them  undertook  to  make  their 
escape,  upon  which  they  were  fired  upon.  Now  it  is 
doubtless  the  case  that  these  females  never  saw  a  white 
man  before,  or  ever  heard  a  gun  fired.  It  must  have 
sounded  to  them  like  the  rumbling  of  thunder,  and 
2* 


IS 

terror  must  certainly  have  filled  all  their  hearts.  And 
can  it  be  supposed  that  these  innocent  Indians  could 
have  looked  upon  them  as  good  and  trusty  men?  Do 
you  look  upon  the  midnight  robber  and  assassin  as 
being  a  Christian,  and  trusty  man?  These  Indians 
had  not  done  one  single  wrong  act  to  the  whites,  but 
were  as  innocent  of  any  crime,  as  any  beings  in  the 
world.  And  do  you  believe  that  Indians  cannot  feel 
and  see,  as  well  as  white  people?  If  you  think  so, 
you  are  mistaken.  Their  power  of  feeling  and  know 
ing  is  as  quick  as  yours.  Now  this  is  to  be  borne,  as 
the  pilgrims  did  as  their  Master  told  them  to  ;  but  what 
color  he  was  I  leave  it.  But  if  tiie  real  sufferers  say 
one  word,  they  are  denounced,  as  being  wild  and  sav 
age  beasts. 

.  But  let  us  look  a  little  further.  It  appears  that  in 
1630,a  benevolent  Chief  bid  the  pilgrims  welcome  to  his 
shores  ;  and  in  June  28,  1630,  ceded  his  land  to  them 
for  the  small  sum  of  eighty  dollars,  now  Ipswich,  Row 
ley,  and  a  part  of  Essex.  The  following  year,  at  the 
July  term,  1631,  these  pilgrims  of  the  new  world,  pass 
ed  an  act  in  court,  that  the  friendly  chief  should  not 
come  into  their  houses  short  of  paying  fifty  dollars,  or 
an  equivalent,  that  is  ten  beaver  skins.  Who  could 
have  supposed  that  the  meek  and  lowly  followers  of 
virtue  would  have  taken  such  methods  to  rob  honest 
men  of  the  woods.  But  for  this  insult,  the  pilgrims  had 
well  nigh  lost  their  lives  and  their  all,  had  it  not  been 
prevented  by  ROBBIN,  an  Indian,  who  apprized  them 
of  their  danger.  And  now  let  it  be  understood,  not 
withstanding  all  the  bitter  feelings  the  whites  have  gen- 


19 

erally  shown  towards  Indians,  yet  they  have  been  the 
only  instrument  in  preserving  their  lives. 

The  history  of  New  England  writers  say,  that  our 
tribes  were  iarge  and  respectable.  How  then,  could  it 
be  otherwise,  but  their  safety  rested  in  the  hands  of 
friendly  Indians.  In  1647,  the  pilgrims  speak  of  large 
and  respectable  tribes.  But  let  us  trace  them  for  a  few 
moments.  How  have  they  been  destroyed,  is  it  by  fair 
means?  No.  How  then?  By  hypocritical  proceed 
ings,  by  being  duped  and  flattered  ;  flattered  by  inform 
ing  the  Indians  that  their  God  was  a  going  to  speak  to 
them,  and  then  place  them  before  the  cannon's  mouth 
ia  a  line,  and  then  putting  the  match  to  it  and  kill 
thousands  of  them.  We  might  suppose  that  meek 
Christians  had  better  gods  and  weapons  than  cannon; 
weapons  that  were  not  carnal,  but  mighty  through  God, 
to  the  pulling  down  of  strong  holds.  These  are  the 
weapons  that  modern  Christians  profess  to  have  ;  and 
if  the  pilgrims  did  not  have  them,  they  ought  not  to  be 
honored  as  such.  But  let  us  again  review  their  weap 
ons,  to  civilize  the  nations  of  this  soil.  What  were 
they:  rum  and  powder,  and  ball,  together  with  all  the 
diseases,  such  as  the  small  pox,  and  every  other  dis 
ease  immaginable  ;  and  in  this  way  sweep  off  thou 
sands  and  tens  of  thousands.  And  then  it  has  been 
said,  that  these  men  who  were  free  from  these  things, 
that  they  could  not  live  among  civilized  people.  We 
wonder  how  a  virtuous  people  could  live  in  a  sink  of 
diseases,  a  people  who  had  never  been  used  to  them. 

And  who  is  to  account  for  those  destructions  upon 
innocent  families  and  helpless  children.     It  was  said  by 


20 

some  of  the  New  England  writers,  that  living  babes 
were  found  at  the  breast  of  their  dead  mothers.  What 
an  awful  sight  !  and  to  think  too,  that  these  diseases 
were  carried  among  them  on  purpose  to  destroy  them. 
Let  the  children  of  the  pilgrims  blush,  while  the  son 
of  the  forest  drops  a  tear,  and  groans  over  the  fale  of 
his  murdered  and  departed  fathers.  He  would  say  to 
the  sons  of  the  pilgrims,  (as  Job  said  about  his  birth 
day,)  let  the  day  be  dark,  the  22d  of  December,  1622; 
let  it  be  forgotten  in  your  celebration,  in  your  speeches, 
and  by  the  burying  of  the  Rock  that  your  fathers  first 
put  their  foot  upon.  For  be  it  remembered,  although 
the  gospel  is  said  to  be  glad  tidings  to  all  people,  yet 
we  poor  Indians  never  have  found  those  who  brought  it 
as  messengers  of  mercy,  but  contrawise.  We  say, 
therefore,  let  every  man  of  color  wrap  himself  in  mourn 
ing,  for  the  22d  of  December  and  the  4th  of  July  are 
days  of  mourning  and  not  of  joy.  (I  would  here  say, 
there  is  an  error  in  my  book  ;  it  speaks  of  the  25th  of 
December,  but  it  should  be  the  22d.  See  Indian  Nul- 
lifiation.)  Let  them  rather  fast  and  pray  to  the  great 
Spirit,  the  Indian's  God,  who  deals  out  mercy  to  his 
red  children,  and  not  destruction. 

Oh,  Christians,  can  you  answer  for  those  beings  that 
have  been  destroyed  by  your  hostilities,  and  beings  too 
that  lies  endeared  to  God  as  yourselves  ?  his  Son  be 
ing  their  Saviour  as  well  as  yours,  and  alike  to  all  men  ? 
And  will  you  presume  to  say  that  you  are  executing  the 
judgments  of  God  by  so  doing,  or  as  many  really  are 
approving  the  works  of  their  fathers  to  be  genuine,  as 
it  is  certain  that  every  time  they  celebrate  the  day  of 


21 

the  pilgrims  they  do  ?    Although  in  words  they  deny  it, 
yet  in  works  they  approve   of  the  iniquities  of  their 
fathers.  ^And  as  the  seed  of  iniquity  and  prejudice  was 
sown  in  that  day,  so  it  still  remains  ;  and  there  is  a  deep 
rooted  popular  opinion  in  the  hearts  of  many,  that  In 
dians  were  made,  &c.  on  purpose  for  destruction,  to  be 
driven  out  by  white  Christians,  and  they  to  take  their 
places ;  and  that  God  had  decreed  it  from  all  eternity. 
If  such  theologians  would  only  study  the  works  of  na 
ture  more,  they  would  understand  the  purposes  of  good 
better  than  they  do.      That  the  favor  of  the  Almighty 
was  goocj  and  holy,  and  all  his  nobler  works  were  made 
to  adorn  his  image,  by  beinsj  his  grateful  servants,  and 
admiring  each  other  as  angels  ;  and  not  as  they  say,  to 
drive  and  devour  each  other.     And  that  you  may  know 
the  spirit  of  the  pilgrims  yet  remain,  we  will  present 
before  you  the  words  of  a  humble  divine   of  the  far 
West.      He  says,    "the   desert  becomes  an  Eden." 
Rev.  NAHUM  GOLD,  of  Union  Grove,  Putman,  writes 
under  date  June  12,  1835,  says  he,  "  let  any  man  look 
at  this  settlement,  and  reflect  what  it  was  three  years 
ago,  and  his  heart  can  but  kindle  up  while  he  exclaims, 
*  what  has  God  wrought !'  the  savage  has  left  the  ground 
for  civilized  man  ;  the  rich  prairie,  from  bringing  forth 
all  its  strengths  to  be  burned,  is  now  receiving  numer 
ous  enclosures,  and  brings  a  harvest  of  corn  and  wheat 
to  feed   the  church.     Yes,  sir,  this  is  now  God's  vine 
yard  ;  he  has  gathered  the  vine,  the  choice  vine,  and 
brought  it  from   a  far  country,  and  has  planted  it  on  a 
goodly  soil.      He  expects  fruit  now.      He  gathered  out 
the  stones  thereof,  and  drove  the  red  Canaanites  from 


trampling  it  down,  or  in  any  way  hindering  its  in 
crease." — N.  Y.  Evangelist,  August  1. 

But  what  next  should  we  hear  from  this  very  pious 
man.  Why,  my  brethren,  the  poor  missionaries  want 
money  to  go  and  convert  the  poor  heathen,  as  if  God 
could  not  convert  them  where  they  were  ;  but  must 
first  drive  them  out.  If  God  wants  the  red  men  con 
verted,  we  should  think  he  could  do  it  as  well  in  one 
place  as  in  another.  But  must  I  say,  and  shall  I  say  it, 
that  missionaries  have  injured  us  more  than  they  have 
done  us  good,  by  degrading  us  as  a  people,  in  breaking 
up  our  governments,  and  leaving  us  without  any  suf 
frages  whatever,  or  a  legal  right  among  men.  Oh, 
what  cursed  doctrine  is  this,  it  most  certainly  is  not  fit 
to  civilize  men  with,  much  more  to  save  their  souls  ; 
and  we  poor  Indians  want  no  such  missionaries  around 
us.  But  I  would  suggest  one  thing,  and  that  is,  let  the 
ministers  and  people  use  the  colored  people  they  have 
already  around  them,  like  human  beings,  before  they 
go  to  convert  any  more  ;  and  let  them  show  it  in  their 
churches  ;  and  let  them  proclaim  it  upon  the  house 
tops,  and  I  would  say  to  the  benevolent,  withhold  your 
hard  earnings  from  them,  unless  they  do  do  it ;  until 
they  can  stop  laying  their  own  wickedness  to  God, 
which  is  blasphemy. 

But  if  God  was  like  his  subjects,  we  should  all  have 
been  swept  off  before  now  ;  for  we  find  that  of  late, 
pilgrims'  children  have  got  to  killing  and  mobbing  each 
other,  as  they  have  got  rid  of  most  all  the  Indians. 
This  is  worse  than  my  countrymen  ever  did  ;  for  they 
never  mobbed  one  another,  and  I  was  in  hopes  that  the 


23 

sons  of  the  pilgrims  had  improved  a  little.  But  the 
more  honorable  may  thank  their  fathers  for  such  a  spirit 
in  this  age.  And  remember  that  their  walls  of  preju 
dice  was  built  with  untempered  mortar,  contrary  to 
God's  command  ;  and  be  assured,  it  will  fall  upon  their 
children,  though  1  sincerely  hope  they  will  not  be  seri 
ously  injured  by  it.  Although  I  myself,  now  and  then 
feel  a  little  of  its  pressure,  as  though  I  should  not  be 
able  to  sustain  the  shock  ;  but  I  trust  the  great  Spirit 
will  stand  by  me,  as  also  good  and  honorable  men  will, 
being  as  it  were  the  last,  still  lingering  upon  the  shores 
of  time,  standing  as  it  were  upon  the  graves  of  his  much 
injured  race,  to  plead  their  cause,  and  speak  for  the 
rights  of  the  remaining  few.  Although  it  is  said  by 
many,  that  Indians  had  no  rights,  neither  do  they  regard 
their  rights  ;  nor  can  they  look  a  white  man  in  the  face, 
and  ask  him  for  them.  If  the  white  man  did  but  know 
it,  the  Indians  knows  it  would  do  no  good  to  spend  his 
breath  for  nought.  But  if  we  can  trust  to  ROGER 
WILLIAMS'  word,  in  regard  to  Indian  rights :  he  says, 
no  people  were  more  so  ;  that  the  cause  of  all  their 
wars  were  about  their  hunting  grounds.  And  it  is  cer 
tain  their  boundaries  were  set  to  their  respective  tribes  ; 
so  that  each  one  knew  his  own  range.  The  poet  speaks 
thus  of  CANONICUS,  in  1803  : 

Almighty  Prinee,  of  venerable  age, 
A  fearless  warrior,  but  of  peace  the  friend  ; 
His  breast  a  treasury  of  maxims  sage, 
His  arm  a  host,  to  punish  or  defend. 

It  was  said  he  was  eighty-four  years  of  age  when  he 
died,  an  able  defender  of  his  rights.     Thus  it  does  ap- 


24 

pear  that  Indians  had  rights,  and  those  rights  were  near 
and  dear  to  them,  as  your  stores  and  farms,  and  fire 
sides  are  to   the   whites,  and  their  wives  and  children 
also.     And  how  the  pilgrims  could  rejoice  at  their  dis 
tresses,  I  know  not ;    what  divinity  men  were  made  of 
in  those  days,  rather  puzzles  me  now  and  then.     Now, 
for  example,  we  will  lay  before  you  the  conduct  of  an 
Indian  and  the  whites,  and  leave  you,  dear  sirs,  to  judge. 
History  informs  us   that  in  Kennebunk   there  liv 
ed  an  Indian,  remarkable  for  his  good  conduct,  and  who 
received  a  grant  of  land  from  the  State,  and  fixed  him 
self  in  a  new   township,    where  a  number  of  white 
families  were  settled.     Though  not  ill-treated,  yet  the 
common    prejudices    against    Indians    prevented   any 
sympathy  with  him,  though  he  himself  did  all  that  lay 
in  his  power  to  comfort  his  white  neighbors,  in  case  of 
sickness   and   death.     But  now  let  us  see  the  scene 
reversed.     This  poor  Indian,  that  had  nourished,  and 
waited  to  aid  the  Pilgrims  in  their  trouble,  now  vainly 
looks  for  help,  when  sickness  and  death  comes  into 
his  family.     Hear  his  own  words.     He  speaks  to  the 
inhabitants  thus  :  "When  white  man's  child  die,  Indian 
man   he  sorry;  he   help   bury  him.     When   my  child 
die,  no  one  speak  to  me ;  I  make  his  grave  alone.     I 
can  no  live   here."     He  gave  up  his  farm,  dug  up  the 
body  of  his  child,  and  carried  it  200  miles,  through  the 
wilderness,  to  join  the  Canadian  Indians.     What  dig 
nity  there  was  in   this   man  ;  and   we   do  not  wonder 
that  he  felt  so  indignant  at  the  proceedings  of  the  then 
called  Christians.     But  this   was  as  they  were   taught 
by  their  haughty  divines  and  orators  of  the  day.     But, 


25 

nevertheless,  the  people  were  to  blame,  for  they  might 
have  read  for  themselves ;  and  they  doubtless  would 
have  found  that  we  were  not  made  to  be  vessels  of 
wrath,  as  they  say  we  were.  And  had  the  whites 
found  it  out,  perhaps  they  would  not  have  rejoiced  at 
a  poor  Indian's  death ;  or  when  they  were  swept  off, 
would  not  have  called  it  the  Lord  killing  the  Indians 
to  make  room  for  them  upon  their  lands.  This  is 
something  like  many  people  wishing  for  their  friends 
to  die,  that  they  might  get  their  property.  1  am  aston 
ished  when  I  look  at  peoples'  absurd  blindness — when 
all  are  liable  to  die,  and  all  subject  to  all  kinds  of  dis 
eases.  For  example;  why  is  it  that  epidemics  have 
raged  so  much  among  the  more  civilized  ?  in  London, 
1660,  the  plague  ;  and  in  1830  and  1831,  the  cholera, 
in  the  old  and  new  world,  when  the  inhabitants  were 
lain  in  heaps  by  that  epidemic.  Should  I  hear  of  an 
Indian  rejoicing  over  the  inhabitants,  I  would  no  longer 
own  him  as  a  brother.  But,  dear  friends,  you  know 
that  no  Indian  knew  by  the  Bible  it  was  wrong  to  kill, 
because  he  knew  not  the  Bible,  and  its  sacred  laws. 
But  it  is  certain  the  Pilgrims  knew  better  than  to  break 
the  commands  of  their  Lord  and  Master;  they  knew 
that  it  was  written,  "  thou  shalt  not  kill." 

But  having  laid  a  mass  of  history  and  exposition 
before  you,  the  purpose  of  which  is  to  show  that 
PHILIP  and  all  the  Indians  generally,  felt  indignantly 
towards  whites,  whereby  they  were  more  easily  allied 
together  by  PHILIP,  their  King  and  Emperor,  we  come 
to  notice  more  particularly  his  history.  As  to  his 
Majesty,  King  PHILIP,  it  was  certain  that  his  honor 
3 


was  put  to  the  test,  and  it  was  certainly  to  be  tried, 
even  at  the  loss  of  his  life  and  country.  It  is  a  matter 
of  uncertainty  about  his  age ;  but  his  birth-place  was  at 
Mount  Hope,  Rhode  Island,  where  MASSASOIT,  his 
father  lived,  till  1656,  and  died,  as  also  his  brother, 
ALEXANDER,  by  the  governor's  ill-treating  him,  (that 
is,  Winthrop,)  which  caused  his  death,  as  before  men 
tioned,  in  1662;  after  which,  the  kingdom  fell  into  the 
hands  of  PHILIP,  the  greatest  man  that  ever  lived 
upon  the  American  shores.  Soon  after  his  coming  to 
the  throne,  it  appears  he  began  to  be  noticed,  though, 
prior  to  this,  it  appears  that  he  was  not  forward  in  the 
councils  of  war  or  peace.  When  he  came  into  office 
it  appears  that  he  knew  there  was  great  responsibility 
resting  upon  himself  and  country ;  that  it  was  likely  to 
be  ruined  by  those  rude  intruders  around  him ;  though 
he  appears  friendly,  and  is  willing  to  sell  them  lands 
for  almost  nothing,  as  we  shall  learn  from  dates  of  the 
Plymouth  Colony,  which  commence  June  23,  1664. 
William  Benton,  of  Rhode  Island,  a  merchant,  buys 
Matapoisett  of  PHILIP  and  wife,  but  no  sum  is  set, 
which  he  gave  for  it.  To  this  deed,  his  counsellors, 
and  wife,  and  two  of  the  Pilgrims,  were  witnesses.  In 
1665  he  sold  New  Bedford  and  Compton  for  forty 
dollars.  In  1667  he  sells  to  Constant  South  worth  and 
others  all  the  meadow  lands  from  Dartmouth  to  Mata 
poisett,  for  which  he  received  sixty,  dollars.  The 
same  year  he  sells  to  Thomas  Wiliet  a  tract  of  land 
two  miles  in  length,  and  perhaps  the  same  in  width, 
for  which  he  received  forty  dollars.  In  1668  he  sold 
a  tract  of  some  square  miles,  now  called  Swanzey. 


37 

The  next  year  he  sells  five  hundred  acres  in  Svvanzey, 
for  which  he  received  eighty  dollars.  His  counsellors 
and  interpreters,  with  the  Pilgrims,  were  witnesses  to 
these  deeds. 

OSAMEQJJAN,  for  valuable  considerations,  in  the  year 
1641  sold  to  John  Brown  and  Edward  Winslow  a 
tract  of  land  eight  miles  square,  situated  on  both  sides 
of  Palmer's  River.  PHILIP,  in  1668  was  required  to 
sign  a  quit-claim  of  the  same,  which  we  understand 
he  did  in  the  presence  of  his  counsellors.  In  the  same 
year  PHILIP  laid  claim  to  a  portion  of  land  called 
New  Meadows,  alleging  that  it  was  not  intended  to  be 
conveyed  in  a  former  deed,  for  which  Mr.  Brown  paid 
him  forty-four  dollars,  in  goods ;  so  it  was  settled  with 
out  difficulty.  Also,  in  1669,  for  forty  dollars  he  sold 
to  one  John  Cook,  a  whole  island,  called  Nokatay, 
near  Dartmouth.  The  same  year  PHILIP  sells  a  tract 
of  land  in  Middleborough  for  fifty-two  dollars.  In 
1671  he  sold  to  Hugh  Cole  a  large  tract  of  land,  lying 
near  Swanzey,  for  sixteen  dollars.  In  1672  he  sold 
sixteen  square  miles  to  William  Breton  and  others,  of 
Taunton,  for  which  he  and  his  chief  received  five 
hundred  and  seventy-two  dollars.  This  contract, 
signed  by  himself  and  chiefs,  ends  the  sales  of  lands 
with  PHILIP,  for  all  which  he  received  nine  hundred 
and  seventy-four  dollars,  as  far  as  we  can  learn  by  the 
records. 

Here  PHILIP  meets  with  a  most  bitter  insult,  in 
1673,  from  one  Peter  Talmon,  of  Rhode  Island,  who 
complained  to  the  Plymouth  Court  against  PHILIP,  of 
Mount  Hope,  predecessor,  heir,  and  administrator  of 


28 

his  brother  ALEXANDER,  deceased,  in  an  action  on  the 
case,  to  the  damage  of  three  thousand  and  two  hundred 
dollars,  for  which  the  Court  gave  verdict  in  favor  of 
Talmon,  the  young  Pilgrim  ;  for  which  PHILIP  had 
to  make  good  to  the  said  Talmon  a  large  tract  of  land 
at  Sapamet  and  other  places  adjacent :  and  for  the 
want  thereof,  that  is,  more  land  that  was  not  taken  up, 
the  complainant  is  greatly  damnified.  This  is  the 
language  in  the  Pilgrims'  Court.  Now  let  us  review 
this  a  little.  The  man  who  bought  this  land  made  the 
contract,  as  he  says,  with  Alexander,  ten  or  twelve 
years  before ;  then  why  did  he  not  bring  forward  his 
contract  before  the  Court  ?  It  is  easy  to  understand 
why  he  did  not.  Their  object  was  to  cheat,  or  get 
the  whole  back  again  in  this  way.  Only  look  at  the 
sum  demanded,  and  it  is  enough  to  satisfy  the  critical 
observer.  This  course  of  proceedings  caused  the 
Chief  and  his  people  to  entertain  strong  jealousies  of 
the  whites. 

In  the  year  1668  Philip  made  a  complaint  against 
one  Weston,  who  had  wronged  one  of  his  men  of  a  gun 
and  some  swine;  and  we  have  no  account  that  he  got 
any  justice  for  his  injured  brethren.  And,  indeed,  it 
would  be  a  strange  thing  for  poor  unfortunate  Indians 
to  find  justice  in  those  Courts  of  the  pretended  pious, 
in  those  days,  or  even  since ;  and  for  a  proof  of  my 
assertion  I  will  refer  the  reader  or  hearer  to  the  records 
of  Legislatures  and  Courts  throughout  New  England; 
and  also  to  my  book,  Indian  Nullification. 

We  would  remark  still  further;  who  stood  up  in 
those  days,  and  since,  to  plead  Indian  rights  ?  Was  it 


29 

the  friend  of  the  Indian  ?  No ;  it  was  his  enemies  who 
rose  ;  his  enemies,  to  judge  and  pass   sentence.     And 
we  know  that  such  kind  of  characters  as  the  Pilgrims 
were,  in  regard  to  the  Indians'  rights,  who,  as  they  say, 
had  none,  must  certainly  always  give   verdict  against 
them,  as,  generally  speaking,  they  always  have.     Prior 
to  this  insult  it  appears  that  Philip  had  met  with  great 
difficulty  with  the   Pilgrims ;  that  they  appeared  to  be 
suspicious  of  him  in  1671;  and  the  Pilgrims  sent  for 
him,  hut  he  did  not  appear  to  move  as  though  he  cared 
much  for  their  messenger,  which  caused  them  to  be 
still  more  suspicious.     What  grounds  the  Pilgrims  had 
is  not  ascertained,  unless  it  is  attributed  to  a  guilty 
conscience  for  wrongs  done  to  Indians.     It   appears 
that  Philip,  when  he  got  ready,  goes  near  to  them,  and 
sends  messengers  to  Taunton,  to  invite  the  Pilgrims  to 
come  and  treat  with  him ;  but  the  governor  being  either 
too  proud,  or  afraid,  sends  messengers  to  him  to  come 
to  their  residence  at  Taunton,  to  which  he  complied. 
Among  these  messengers  was  the  Honorable  Roger 
Williams,  a  Christian  and  a  patriot,  and  a  friend  to  the 
Indians,  for  which  we  rejoice.     Philip,  not  liking  to 
trust  the  Pilgrims,  left  some  of  the  whiles  in  his  stead, 
to  warrant  his  safe  return.     When  Philip  and  his  men 
had  come  near  the  place,  some  of  the  Plymouth  peo 
ple  were  ready  to  attack  him  ;  this  rashness  was,  how 
ever,  prevented  by  the  Commissioner  of  Massachu 
setts,  who  met  there  with  the  Governor,  to  treat  with 
Philip;  and  it  was  agreed  upon  to  meet  in  the  meeting 
house.     Philip's  complaint  was,  that  the  Pilgrims  had 
injured  the  planting  grounds  of  his  people.     The  Pil- 
3* 


30 

grims  acting  as  umpires  say  the  charges  against  them 
were  not  sustained  ;  and  because  it  was  not,  to  their 
satisfaction,  the  whites  wanted  that  Philip  should  order 
all  his  men  to  bring  in  his  arms  and  ammunition  ;  and 
the  Court  was  to  dispose  of  them  as  they  pleased. 
The  next  thing  was,  that  Philip  must  pay  the  cost  of 
the  treaty,  which  was  four  hundred  dollars.  The 
Pious  Dr.  Mather  says,  that  Philip  was  appointed  to 
pay  a  sum  of  money  to  defray  the  charges  that  his 
insolent  clamors  had  put  the  Colony  to.  We  wonder 
if  the  Pilgrims  were  as  ready  to  pay  the  Indians  for  the 
trouble  they  put  them  to.  If  they  were,  it  was  with 
the  instruments  of  death.  It  appears  that  Philip  did 
not  wish  to  make  war  with  them,  but  compromised 
with  them;  and  in  order  to  appease  the  Pilgrims  he 
actually  did  order  his  men,  whom  he  could  not  trust, 
to  deliver  them  up  ;  but  his  own  men  withheld,  with 
the  exception  of  a  very  few. 

Now  what  an  unrighteous  act  this  was  in  the  people, 
who  professed  to  be  friendly  and  humane,  and  peacea 
ble  to  all  men.  It  could  not  be  that  they  were  so  de 
void  of  sense  as  to  think  these  illiberal  acts  would  pro 
duce  peace  ;  but  contrawise,  continual  broils.  And  in 
fact  it  does  appear  that  they  courted  war  instead  of 
peace,  as  it  appears  from  a  second  council  that  was 
held  by  order  of  the  Governor,  at  Plymouth,  Septem 
ber  13,  1671.  It  appears  that  they  sent  again  for 
PHILIP  ;  but  he  did  not  attend,  but  went  himself  and 
made  complaint  to  the  governor,  which  made  him  write 
to  the  council,  and  ordered  them  to  desist,  to  be  more 
mild,  and  not  to  take  such  rash  measures.  But  it  ap- 


31 

pears  that  on  the  24th,  the  scene  changed ;  that  they 
held  another  council,  and  the  disturbers  of  the  peace, 
the  intruders  upon  a  peaceable  people,  say  they  find 
PHILIP  guilty  of  the  following  charges  : 

1.  That  he  had  neglected  to  bring  in  his  arms,  al 
though  competent  time  had  been  given  him. 

2.  That  he  had  carried  insolently  and  proudly  to 
wards  us  on  several  occasions,  in  refusing  to  come  down 
to  our  courts,   (when  sent  for,)  to  procure  a  right  un 
derstanding  betwixt  us. 

What  an  insult  this  was  to  his  Majesty,  and  inde 
pendent  Chief  of  a  powerful  nation,  should  come  at 
the  beck  and  call  of  his  neighbors  whenever  they 
pleased  to  have  him  do  it.  Besides,  did  not  PHILIP 
do  as  he  agreed,  at  Taunton,  that  is  in  case  there 
was  more  difficulty  they  were  to  leave  it  to  Massachu 
setts,  to  be  settled  there  in  the  high  council,  and  both 
parties  were  to  abide  by  their  decision  ;  but  did  the 
Pilgrims  wait  ?  No.  But  being  infallible,  of  course 
they  could  not  en*. 

The  third  charge  was,  harboring  divers  Indians  not 
his  own  men  ;  but  vagabond  Indians. 

Now  what  a  charge  this  was  to  bring  against  a  King, 
calling  his  company  vagabonds,  because  it  did  not  hap 
pen  to  please  them  ;  and  what  right  had  they  to  find 
fault  with  his  company.  I  do  not  believe  that  PHILIP 
ever  troubled  himself  about  the  white  people's  com 
pany,  and  prefer  charges  against  them  for  keeping 
company  with  whom  they  pleased.  Neither  do  I 
believe  he  called  their  company  vagabonds,  for  he  was 
more  noble  than  that. 


33 

The  fourth  charge  is,  that  he  went  to  Massachusetts 
with  his  council,  and  complained  against  them,  and 
turned  their  brethren  against  them. 

This  was  more  a  complaint  against  themselves  than 
Philip,  inasmuch  it  represents  that  Philip's  story  was 
so  correct,  that  they  were  blameable. 

5.  That  he  had  not  been  quite  so  civil  as  they  wish 
ed  him  to  be. 

We  presume  that  Philip  felt  himself  much  troubled 
by  these  intruders,  and  of  course  put  them  off  from 
time  to  time,  or  did  not  take  much  notice  of  their  pro 
posals.  Now  such  charges  as  those,  we  think  are  to 
no  credit  of  the  pilgrims.  However,  this  council  end 
ed  much  as  the  other  did,  in  regard  to  disarming  the 
Indians,  which  they  never  were  able  to  do.  Thus 
ended  the  events  of  1671. 

But  it  appears  that  the  pilgrims  could  not  be  con 
tented  with  what  they  had  done,  but  they  must  send 
an  Indian,  and  a  traitor,  to  preach  to  Philip  and  his 
men,  in  order  to  convert  him  and  his  people  to  Chris 
tianity.  The  preacher's  name  was  Sassamon.  I  would 
appeal  to  this  audience,  is  it  not  certain  that  the  Ply 
mouth  people  strove  to  pick  a  quarrel  with  Philip  and 
his  men.  What  could  have  been  more  insulting  than 
to  send  a  man  to  them  who  was  false,  and  looked  upon 
as  such  ;  for  it  is  most  certain  that  a  traitor  was  above 
all  others,  the  more  to  be  detested  than  any  other. 
And  not  only  so,  it  was  the  laws  of  the  Indians,  that 
such  a  man  must  die  ;  that  he  had  forfeited  his  life ; 
and  when  he  made  his  appearance  among  them,  Philip 
would  have  killed  him  upon  the  spot,  if  his  council  had 


33 

not  persuaded  him  not  to.  But  it  appears  that  in 
March,  1674,  one  of  Philip's  men  killed  him,  and 
placed  him  beneath  the  ice  in  a  certain  pond  near  Ply 
mouth  ;  doubtless  by  the  order  of  Philip.  After  this, 
search  was  made  for  him,  and  he  found  there  a  certain 
Indian,  by  the  name  of  Patuckson  ;  Tobias,  also,  his 
son  were  apprehended  and  tried.  Tobias  was  one  of 
Philip's  counsellors,  as  it  appears  from  the  records  that 
the  trial  did  not  end  here,  that  it  was  put  over,  and  that 
two  of  the  Indians  entered  into  bonds  for  $400,  for  the 
appearance  of  Tobias  at  the  June  term  5  for  which  a 
mortgage  of  land  was  taken  to  that  amount,  for  his  safe 
return.  June  having  arrived,  three  instead  of  one  are 
arraigned.  There  was  no  one  but  Tobias  suspected  at 
the  previous  Court.  Now  two  others  are  arraigned, 
tried,  condemned  and  executed,  (making  three  in  all,) 
in  June  the  8th,  1675,  by  hanging  and  shooting.  It 
does  not  appear  that  any  more  than  one  was  guilty,  and 
it  was  said  that  he  was  known  to  acknowledge  it ;  but 
the  other  two  persisted  in  their  innocency  to  the  last. 

This  murder  of  the  preacher  brought  on  the  war  a 
year  sooner  than  it  was  anticipated  by  Philip.  But 
this  so  exasperated  King  Philip,  that  from  that  day  he 
studied  to  be  revenged  of  the  pilgrims;  judging  that 
his  white  intruders  had  nothing  to  do  in  punishing  his 
people  for  any  crime,  and  that  it  was  in  violation  of 
treaties  of  ancient  date.  But  when  we  look  at  this, 
how  bold  and  how  daring  it  was  to  Philip,  as  though 
they  would  bid  defiance  to  him,  and  all  his  authority, 
we  do  not  wonder  at  his  exasperation.  When  the 
Governor  finds  that  his  Majesty  was  displeasedj  he  then 


34 

sends  messengers  to  him,  and  wishes  to  know  why  he 
would  make  war  upon  him,  (as  if  he  had  clone  all  right,) 
and  wished  to  enter  into  a  new  treaty  with  him.  The 
King  answered  them  thus  :  Your  Governor  is  but  a 
subject  of  King  Charles  of  England,  I  shall  not  treat 
with  a  subject ;  I  shall  treat  of  peace  only  with  a  King, 
my  brother  ;  when  he  cornes,  I  am  ready. 

This  answer  of  Philip's  to  the  messengers,  is  worthy 
of  note  throughout  the  world.  And  never  could  a 
prince  answer  with  more  dignity  in  regard  to  his  offi 
cial  authority  than  he  did ;  disdaining  the  idea  of  plac 
ing  himself  upon  a  par  of  the  minor  subjects  of  a  King  ; 
letting  them  know  at  the  same  time,  that  he  felt  his  in 
dependence  more  than  they  thought  he  did.  And  in 
deed  it  was  time  for  him  to  wake  up,  for  now  the  sub 
jects  of  King  Charles  had  taken  one  of  his  counsellors 
and  killed  him,  and  he  could  no  longer  trust  them. 
Until  the  execution  of  these  three  Indians,  supposed  to 
be  the  murderers  of  Sassamon,  no  hostility  was  com 
mitted  by  Philip  or  his  warriors.  About  the  time  of 
their  trial,  he  was- said  to  be  marching  his  men  up  and 
down  the  country  in  arms  ;  but  when  it  was  known,  he 
could  no  longer  restrain  his  young  men,  who,  upon  the 
24th  of  June,  provoked  the  people  of  Swansey,  by 
killing  their  cattle  and  other  injuries,  which  was  a  sig 
nal  to  commence  the  war,  and  what  they  had  desired, 
as  a  superstitious  notion  prevailed  among  the  Indians, 
that  whoever  fired  the  first  gun  of  either  party,  would 
be  conquered.  Doubtless  a  notion  they  had  received 
from  the  pilgrims.  It  was  upon  a  fast  day  too,  when 
the  first  gun  was  fired ;  and  as  the  people  were  return- 


35 

ing  from  church,  they  were  fired  upon  by  the  Indians, 
when  several  of  them  were  killed.  It  is  not  supposed 
that  Philip  directed  this  attack,  but  was  opposed  to  it. 
Though  it  is  not  doubted  that  he  meant  to  be  revenged 
upon  his  enemies  ;  for  during  some  time  he  had  been 
cementing  his  countrymen  together,  as  it  appears  that 
he  had  sent  to  all  the  disaffected  tribes,  who  also  had 
watched  the  movements  of  the  comers  from  the  new 
world,  and  were  as  dissatisfied  as  Philip  himself  was 
with  their  proceedings. 

Now  around  the  council  fires  they  meet, 

The  young  nobles  for  to  greet ; 
Their  tales  of  wo  and  sorrows  to  relate, 

About  the  pilgrims,  their  wretched  foes. 

And  while  their  fires  were  blazing  high, 

Their  King  and  Emperor  to  greet ; 
His  voice  like  lightning  fires  their  hearts, 

To  stand  the  test  or  die. 

See  those  pilgrims  from  the  world  unknown, 

No  love  for  Indians  do  know  : 
Although  our  fathers  fed  them  well 

With  venison  rich,  of  precious  kinds. 

No  gratitude  to  Indians  now  is  shown, 

From  people  saved  by  them  alone  ; 
All  gratitude  that  poor  Indians  do  know, 

Is,  we  are  robbed  of  all  our  rights. 

At  this  council  it  appears  that  Philip  made  the  fol 
lowing  speech  to  his  chiefs,  counsellors  and  warriors  : 

BROTHERS, — You  see  this  vast  country  before  us, 
which  the  great  Spirit  gave  to  our  fathers  and  us  ;  you 
see  the  buffalo  a  d  deer  that  now  are  our  support. — 
Brothers,  you  see  these  little  ones,  our  wives  and  chil- 


36 

dren,  who  are  looking  to  us  for  food  and  raiment ;  and 
you  now  see  the  foe  before  you,  that  they  have  grown 
insolent  and  bold  ;  that  all  our  ancient  customs  are  dis 
regarded  ;  the  treaties  made  by  our  fathers  and  us  are 
broken,  and  all  of  us  insulted ;  our  council  fires  disre 
garded,  and  all  the  ancient  customs  of  our  fathers  ;  our 
brothers  murdered  before  our  eyes,  and  their  spirits 
cry  to  us  for  revenge.  Brothers,  these  people  from 
the  unknown  world  will  cut  down  our  groves,  spoil  our 
hunting  and  planting  grounds,  and  drive  us  and  our 
children  from  the  graves  of  our  fathers,  and  our  coun 
cil  fires,  and  enslave  our  women  and  children. 

This  famous  speech  of  Philip  was  calculated  to 
arouse  them  to  arms,  to  do  the  best  they  could  in  pro 
tecting  and  defending  their  rights.  The  blow  had  now 
been  struck,  the  die  was  cast,  and  nothing  but  blood 
and  carnage  was  before  them.  And  we  find  Philip  as 
active  as  the  wind,  as  dextrous  as  a  giant,  firm  as  the 
pillows  of  heaven,  and  as  fierce  as  a  lion,  a  powerful  foe 
to  contend  with  indeed  :  and  as  swift  as  an  eagle,  gath 
ering  together  his  forces,  to  prepare  them  for  the  bat 
tle.  '  And  as  it  would  swell  our  address  too  full,  to 
mention  all  the  tribes  in  Philip's  train  of  warriors,  suf 
fice  it  to  say  that  from  six  to  seven  were  with  him  at 
different  times.  When  he  begins  the  war,  he  goes  for 
ward  and  musters  about  500  of  his  men,  and  arms 
them  complete,  and  about  900  of  the  other,  -making  in 
all  about  fourteen  hundred  warriors  when  he  com 
menced.  It  must  be  recollected  that  this  war  was  le 
gally  declared  by  Philip,  so  that  the  colonies  had  a  fair 
warning.  It  was  no  savage  war  of  surprise  as  some 


37 

suppose,  but  one  sorely  provoked  by  the  pilgrims  them 
selves.  But  when  Philip  and  his  men  fought,  as  they 
were  accustomed  to  do,  and  according  to  their  mode  of 
war,  it  was  no  more  than  what  could  be  expected. 
But  we  hear  no  particular  acts  of  cruelty  committed  by 
Philip  during  the  siege.  But  we  find  more  manly  no 
bility  in  him,  than  we  do  in  all  the  head  pilgrims  put 
together,  as  we  shall  see  during  this  quarrel  between 
them.  Philip's  young  men  were  eager  to  do  exploits, 
and  to  lead  captive  their  haughty  lords.  It  does  ap 
pear  that  every  Indian  heart  had  been  lighted  up  at  the 
council  fires,  at  Philip's  speech,  and  that  the  forest  was 
literally  alive  with  this  injured  race.  And  now  town 
after  town  fell  before  them.  The  pilgrims  with  their 
forces  were  ever  marching  in  one  direction,  while  Philip 
and  his  forces  were  marching  in  another,  burning  all  be 
fore  them,  until  Middleborough,  Taunton  and  Dartmouth 
were  laid  in  ruins,  and  forsaken  by  its  inhabitants. 

At  the  great  fight  at  Pocasset,  Philip  commanded  in 
person,  where  he  also  was  discovered  with  his  host  in  a 
dismal  swamp.  He  had  retired  here  with  his  army  to 
secure  a  safe  retreat  from  the  pilgrims,  who  were  in 
close  pursuit  of  him,  and  their  numbers  were  so  pow 
erful  they  thought  the  fate  of  Philip  was  sealed.  They 
surrounded  the  swamp,  in  hopes  to  destroy  him  and  his 
army.  At  the  edge  of  the  swamp  Philip  had  secreted 
a  few  of  his  men  to  draw  them  into  ambush,  upon 
which  the  pilgrims  showed  fight ;  Philip's  men  retreat 
ing  and  the  whites  pursuing  them  till  they  were  sur 
rounded  by  Philip,  and  nearly  all  cut  off.  This  was  a 
sorry  time  to  them ;  the  pilgrims,  however,  reinforced, 
4 


38 

but  ordered  a  retreat,  supposing  it  impossible  for  Philip 
to  escape,  and  knowing  his  forces  to  be  great,  it  was 
conjectured  by  some  to  build  a  fort  to  starve  him  out,  as 
he  had  lost  but  few  men  in  the  fight.  The  situation  of 
Philip  was  rather  peculiar,  as  there  was  but  one  outlet 
to  the  swamp,  and  a  river  before  him  nearly  seven 
miles  to  descend.  The  pilgrims  placed  a  guard  around 
the  swamp  for  13  days,  which  gave  Philip  and  his  men 
time  (o  prepare  canoes  to  make  good  his  retreat ;  in 
which  he  did,  to  the  Connecticut  river,  and  in  his  re 
treat  lost  but  fourteen  men.  We  may  look  upon  this 
move  of  Philip's  to  be  equal,  if  not  superior  to  that  of 
Washington  crossing  the  Delaware.  For  while  Wash 
ington  was  assisted  by  all  the  knowledge  that  art  and 
science  could  give,  together  with  all  the  instruments  of 
defence,  and  edged  tools  to  prepare  rafts,  and  the  like 
helps  for  safety  across  the  river,  Philip  was  naked  as 
to  any  of  these  things,  possessing  only  what  nature,  his 
mother  had  bestowed  upon  >  him  ;  and  yet  makes  his 
escape  with  equal  praise.  But  he  would  not  even  lost 
a  man,  had  it  not  been  for  Indians  who  were  hired  to 
fight  against  Indians,  with  promise  of  their  enjoying 
equal  rights  with  their  white  brethren  ;  but  not  one  of 
those  promises  have  as  yet  been  fulfilled  by  the  pilgrims 
or  their  children,  though  they  must  acknowledge,  that 
without  the  aid  of  Indians  and  their  guides,  they  must 
inevitably  been  swept  off.  It  was  only  then  by  decep 
tion  that  the  pilgrims  gained  the  country,  as  their  word 
has  never  been  fulfilled  in  regard  to  Indian  rights. 

Philip  having  now  taken  possession  of  the  back  set 
tlements  of  Massachusets,  one  town  after  another  was 


39 

swept  off.  A  garrison  being  established  at  North  field 
by  the  pilgrims,  and  while  endeavoring  to  reinforce  it 
with  thirty-six  armed,  twenty  out  of  their  number  was 
killed,  and  one  taken  prisoner.  At  the  same  time 
Philip  so  managed  it  as  to  cut  off  their  retreat,  and 
take  their  ammunition  from  them. 
£,About  the  month  of  August,  they  took  a  young  lad 
about  fourteen  years  of  age,  whom  they  intended  to 
make  merry  with  the  next  day  ;  but  the  pilgrims  said 
God  touched  the  Indians'  heart,  and  they  let  him  go. 
About  the  same  time,  the  whites  took  an  old  man  of 
Philip's,  whom  they  found  alone  ;  and  because  he 
would  not  turn  traitor,  and  inform  them  where  Philip 
was,  they  pronounced  him  worthy  of  death  ;  and  by 
them  was  executed,  cutting  off  first  his  arms  and  then 
his  head.  We  wonder  why  God  did  not  touch  the  pil 
grims'  heart,  and  save  them  from  cruelty,  as  well  as  the 
Indians.  J 

We  would  now  notice  an  act  in  King  Philip,  that  out 
weighs  all  the  other  princes  and  emperors  in  the  world. 
That  is,  when  his  men  began  to  be  in  want  of  money, 
having  a  coat  neatly  wrought  with  mampampeag,  (i.  e. 
Indian  money,)  he  cut  it  to  pieces,  and  distributed  it 
among  all  his  chiefs  and  warriors  ;  it  being  better  than 
the  old  continental  money  of  the  revolution,  in  Wash 
ington's  day,  as  not  one  Indian  soldier  found  fault  with 
it,  as  we  could  ever  learn  ;  so  that  it  cheered  their 
hearts  still  to  persevere  to  maintain  their  rights  and  ex 
pel  their  enemies. 

On  the  18th  of  September,  the  pilgrims  made  a  tour 
from  Hadley  to  Deerfield,  with  about  eighty  men,  to 


40 

bring  their  valuable  articles  of  clothing  and  provisions. 
Having  loaded  their  teams  and  returning,  Philip  and 
his  men  attacked  them,  and  nearly  slew  them  all.  The 
attack  was  made  near  Sugar-loaf  Hill.  It  was  said 
that  in  this  fight,  the  pilgrims  lost  their  best  men  of 
Essex,  and  all  their  goods  ;  upon  which  there  were 
many  made  widows  and  orphans  in  one  day.  Philip 
now  having  done  what  he  could  upon  the  Western  fron 
tiers  of  Massachusetts,  and  believing  his  presence  was 
wanted  among  his  allies,  the  Narragansets,  to  keep  them 
from  being  duped  by  the  pilgrims,  he  is  next  known 
to  be  in  their  country. 

The  pilgrims  determined  to  break  down  Philip's 
power,  if  possible,  with  the  Narragansets  :  thus  they 
raised  an  army  of  1500  strong,  to  go  against  them  and 
destroy  them  if  possible.  In  this,  Massachusetts,  Ply 
mouth  and  Connecticut  all  join  in  severally,  to  crush 
Philip.  Accordingly  in  December,  in  1675,  the  pil 
grims  set  forward  to  destroy  them.  Preceding  their 
march,  Philip  had  made  all  arrangements  for  the  win 
ter,  and  had  fortified  himself  beyond  what  was  common 
for  his  countrymen  to  do,  upon  a  small  island  near 
South  Kingston,  R.  I.  Here  he  intended  to  pass  the 
w'mter  with  his  warriors,  and  their  wives  and  children. 
About  500  Indian  houses  was  erected  of  a  superior 
kind,  in  which  was  deposited  all  their  stores,  tubs  of 
corn,  and  other  things,  piled  up  to  a  great  height,  which 
rendered  it  bullet  proof.  It  was  supposed  that  about 
3000  persons  had  taken  up  their  residence  in  it.  (I 
would  remark,  that  Indians  took  better  care  of  them 
selves  in  those  days  than  they  have  been  able  to  since,) 


41 

Accordingly  on  the  19th  day  of  December,  after   the 
pilgrims  had  been  out  in  the  extreme  cold,  for  nearly  one 
month,  lodging  in  tents,  and  their  provision  being  short, 
and  the  air  full  of  snow,  they  had  no  other  alternative 
than  to  attack  Philip  in  the  fort.     Treachery  however, 
hastened  his  ruin  ;  one  of  his  men  by  hope  of  reward 
from  the  deceptive  pilgrims,  betrayed  his  country  into 
their  hands.     The  traitor's  name  was  Peter.     No  white 
man  was  acquainted  with  the  way,  and  it  would  have 
been   almost   impossible  for   them    to  have  found    it, 
much  less  to  have  captured  it.      There  was  but  one 
point  where  it  could  have  been  entered  or  assailed  with 
any  success,  and  this  was  fortified  much  like  a  block 
house,  directly  in  front  of  the  entrance,  and  also  flankers 
to  cover  a  cross  fire.      Besides  high   palisides,  an  im 
mense  hedge  of  fallen  trees  of  nearly  a  rod  in  thickness. 
Thus  surrounded  by  trees  and  water,  there  was  but  one 
place  that  the  pilgrims  could  pass.     Nevertheless,  they 
made  the  attempt.      Philip  now  had  directed  his  men 
to  fire,  and  every  platoon  of  the  Indians  swept  every 
white  man  from  the  path  one  after  another,  until  six 
captains,  with  a  great  many  of  the  men  had  fallen.     In 
the  mean  time,  one  Captain  Moseley,  with  some  of  his 
men  had  some  how  or  other  gotten  into  the  fort  in 
another  way,  and  surprised   them ;  by  which  the  pil 
grims  were  enabled  to  capture  the  fort,  at  the   same 
time  setting  fire  to  it,  and  hewing  down  men,  women 
and  children  indiscriminately.      Philip,  however,  was 
enabled  to  escape  with  many  of  his  warriors.     It  is  said 
at  this  battle  eighty  whites  were  killed,  and  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  wounded  ;  many  of  whom  died  of  their 
4* 


42 

wounds  afterwards,  not  being  able  to  dress  them  till 
they  had  marched  18  miles  ;  also  leaving  many  of  their 
dead  in  the  fort.  It  is  said  that  700  of  the  Narra^an- 

O 

sets  perished.  The  greater  part  of  them  being  women 
and  children. 

It  appears  that  God  did  not  prosper  them  much  after 
all.  It  is  believed  that  the  sufferings  of  the  pilgrims 
were  without  a  parallel  in  history ;  and  it  is  supposed 
that  the  horrors  and  burning  elements  of  Moscow,  will 
bear  but  a  faint  resemblance  of  that  scene.  The  thou 
sands  and  tens  of  thousands  assembled  there  with  their 
well  disciplined  forces,  bear  but  little  comparison  to 
that  of  modern  Europe,  when  the  inhabitants,  science, 
manners  and  customs  are  taken  into  consideration.  We 
might  web1  admit  the  above  fact,  and  say,  the  like  was 
never  known  among  any  heathen  nation  in  the  world  ; 
for  none  but  those  worse  than  heathens,  would  have  suf 
fered  so  much,  for  the  sake  of  being  revenged  upon 
those  of  their  enemies.  Philip  had  repaired  to  his 
quarters  to  take  care  of  his  people  and  not  to  have 
them  exposed.  We  should  not  have  wondered  quite 
so  much  if  Philip  had  gone  forward  and  acted  thus. 
But  when  a  people,  calling  themselves  Christians,  con 
duct  in  this  manner,  we  think  they  are  censurable,  and 
no  pity  at  all  ought  to  be  had  for  them. 

It  appears  that  one  of  the  whites  had  married  one  of 
Philip's  countrymen  ;  and  they,  the  pilgrims,  said  he 
was  a  traitor,  and  therefore  they  said  he  must  die.  So 
they  quartered  him  ;  and  as  history  informs  us,  they 
said,  he  being  a  heathen,  but  a  few  tears  were  shed  at 
his  funeral.  Here,  then,  because  a  man  would  not 


43 

turn  and  fight  against  his  own  wife  and  family,  or  leave 
them,  he  was  condemned  as  an  heathen.  We  presume 
that  no  honest  men  will  commend  those  ancient  fathers, 
for  such  absurd  conduct.  Soon  after  this,  Philip  and 
his  men  left  that  part  of  the  country,  and  retired  farther 
back,  near  the  Mohawks ;  where,  in  July  1676,  some 
of  his  men  were  slain  by  the  Mohawks.  Notwith 
standing  this,  he  strove  to  get  them  to  join  him  ;  and 
here  it  is  said  that  Philip  did  not  do  that  which  was 
right ;  that  he  killed  some  of  the  Mohawks  and  laid  it 
to  the  whites,  in  order  that  he  might  get  them  to  join 
him.  If  so,  we  cannot  consistently  believe  he  did  right. 
But  he  was  so  exasperated  that  nothing  but  revenge 
would  satisfy  him.  All  this  act  was  no  worse  than  our 
political  men  do  in  our  days,  of  their  strife  to  wrong 
each  other,  who  profess  to  be  enlightened  ;  and  all  for 
the  sake  of  carrying  their  points.  Heathen-like,  either 
by  the  sword,  calumny  or  deception  of  every  kind  ; 
and  the  late  duels  among  the  called  high  men  of  honor, 
is  sufficient  to  warrant  my  statements.  But  while  we 
pursue  our  history  in  regard  to  Philip,  we  find  that  he 
made  many  successful  attempts  against  the  pilgrims,  in 
surprising  and  driving  them  from  their  posts,  during  the 
year  1676,  in  February,  and  through  till  August,  in 
which  time  many  of  the  Christian  Indians  joined  him. 
It  is  thought  by  many,  that  all  would  have  joined  him, 
if  they  had  bsen  left  to  their  choice,  as  it  appears  they 
did  not  like  their  white  brethren  very  well.  It  appears 
that  Philip  treated  his  prisoners  with  a  great  deal  more 
Christian-like  spirit  than  the  pilgrims  did  ;  even  Mrs. 
Rolandson,  although  speaking  with  bitterness  some- 


44 

times  of  the  Indians,  yet  in  her  journal  she  speaks  not 
a  word  against  him.  Philip  even  hires  her  to  work  for 
him,  and  pays  her  for  her  work,  and  then  invites  her  to 
dine  with  him  and  to  smoke  with  him.  And  we  have 
many  testimonies  that  he  was  kind  to  his  prisoners  ;  and 
when  the  English  wanted  to  redeem  Philip's  prisoners, 
they  had  the  privilege. 

Now  did  Governor  Winthrop,  or  any  of  those  an 
cient  divines  use  any  of  his  men  so  ?  No.  Was  it 
known  that  they  received  any  of  their  female  captives 
into  their  houses  and  fed  them  ?  No ;  it  cannot  be 
found  upon  history.  Were  not  the  females  completely 
safe,  and  none  of  them  were  violated,  as  they  acknowl 
edge  themselves  ?  But  was  it  so  when  the  Indian  wo 
men  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  pilgrims  ?  No.  Did  the 
Indians  get  a  chance  to  redeem  their  prisoners  ?  No. 
But  when  they  were  taken,  they  were  either  compelled 
to  turn  traitors  and  join  their  enemies,  or  be  butchered 
upon  the  spot.  And  this  is  the  dishonest  method  that 
the  famous  Capt.  Church  used  in  doing  his  great  ex 
ploits  ;  and  in  no  other  way  could  he  ever  gained  one 
battle.  So  after  all,  Church  only  owes  his  exploits  to 
the  honesty  of  the  Indians,  who  told  the  truth,  and  to 
his  own  deceptive  heart  in  duping  them.  Here  it  is  to 
be  understood,  that  the  whites  have  always  imposed 
upon  the  credulity  of  the  Indians.  It  is  with  shame,  I 
acknowledge,  that  I  have  to  notice  so  much  corruption 
of  a  people  calling  themselves  Christians.  If  they  were 
like  my  people,  professing  no  purity  at  all,  then  their 
crimes  would  not  appear  to  have  such  magnitude.  But 
while  they  appear  to  be  by  profession  more  virtuous, 


45 

their  crimes  still  blacken.  It  makes  them  truly  to  ap 
pear  to  be  like  mountains  filled  with  smoke  ;  and  thick 
darkness  covering  them  all  around. 

But  we  have  another  dark  and  corrupt  deed  for  the 
sons  of  the  pilgrims  to  look  at,  and  that  is  the  fi^ht  and 
capture  of  Philip's  son  and  wife,  and  many  of  his  war 
riors,  in  which  Philip  lost  about  130  men  killed  and 
wounded;  this  was  in  August  1676.  But  the  most 
horrid  act  was  in  taking  Philip's  son,  about  ten  years 
of  age,  and  selling  him  to  be  a  slave  away  from  his 
father  and  mother.  While  I  am  writing,  1  can  hardly 
restrain  my  feelings,  to  think  a  people  calling  them 
selves  Christians,  should  conduct  so  scandalous,  so  out 
rageous,  making  themselves  appear  so  despicable  in  the 
eyes  of  the  Indians ;  and  even  now  in  this  audience,  I 
doubt  not  but  there  is  men  honorable  enough  to  despise 
the  conduct  of  those  pretended  Christians.  And  surely 
none  but  such  as  believe  they  did  right,  will  ever  go 
and  undertake  to  celebrate  that  day  of  their  landing, 
the  22d  of  December.  Only  look  at  it,  then  stop  and 
pause.  My  fathers  came  here  for  liberty  themselves, 
and  then  they  must  go  and  chain  thtt  mind,  that  im 
age  they  professed  to  serve  ;  not  content  to  rob  and 
cheat  the  poor  ignorant  Indians,  but  must  take  one  of 
the  King's  sons,  and  make  a  slave  of  him.  Gentlemen 
and  ladies,  I  blush  at  these  tales,  if  you  do  not,  espec 
ially  when  they  professed  to  be  a  free  and  humane  peo 
ple.  Yes,  they  did  ;  they  took  a  part  of  my  tribe,  and 
sold  them  to  the  Spaniards  in  Bermuda,  and  many 
others ;  and  then  on  the  Sabbath  day,  these  people 
would  gather  themselves  together,  and  say  that  God  is 


46 

no  respecter  of  persons ;  while  the  divines  would  pour 
forth,  "  he  that  says  he  loves  God  and  hates  his  brother, 
is  a  liar,  and  the  truth  is  not  in  him."  And  at  the  same 
time  they  hating  and  selling  their  fellow  men  in  bondage. 
And  there  is  no  manner  of  doubt  but  that  all  my  coun 
trymen  would  have  been  enslaved  if  they  had  tamely 
submitted.  But  no  sooner  would  they  butcher  every 
white  man  that  come  in  their  way,  and  even  put  an  end 
to  their  own  wives  and  children,  and  that  was  all  that 
prevented  them  from  being  slaves  ;  yes,  all.  It  was 
not  the  good  will  of  those  holy  pilgrims  that  prevented, 
no.  But  I  would  speak,  and  I  could  wish  it  might 
be  like  the  voice  of  thunder,  that  it  might  be  heard 
afar  off,  even  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  He  that  will 
advocate  slavery,  is  worse  than  a  beast,  is  a  being  de 
void  of  shame  ;  and  has  gathered  around  him  the  most 
corrupt  and  debasing  principles  in  the  world  ;  and  I  care 
not  whether  he  be  a  minister  or  member  of  any  church 
in  the  world  ;  no,  not  excepting  the  head  men  of  the 
nation.  And  he  that  will  not  set  his  face  against  its 
corrupt  principles,  is  a  coward,  and  not  worthy  of  be 
ing  numbered  among  men  and  Christians.  And  con 
duct  too  that  libels  the  laws  of  the  country,  and  the 
word  of  God,  that  men  profess  to  believe  in. 

After  Philip  had  his  wife  and  son  taken,  sorrow  fill 
ed  his  heart ;  but  notwithstanding,  as  determined  as 
ever  to  be  revenged,  though  was  pursued  by  the  duped 
Indians  and  Church,  into  a  swamp  ;  one  of  the  men 
proposing  to  Philip  that  he  had  better  make  peace  with 
the  enemy,  upon  which  he  slew  him  upon  the  spot. 
And  the  pilgrims  being  also  repulsed  by  Philip,  were 


47 

forced  to  retreat  with  the  loss  of  one  man  in  particular, 
whose  name  was  Thomas  Lucas,  of  Plymouth.  We 
rather  suspect  that  he  was  some  related  to  Lucas  and 
Hedge,  who  made  their  famous  speeches  against  the 
poor  Marshpees,  in  1834,  in  the  Legislature,  in  Boston, 
against  freeing  them  from  slavery,  that  their  fathers, 
the  pilgrims,  had  made  of  them  for  years. 

Philip's  forces  had  now  become  very  small,  so  many 
having  been  duped  away  by  the  whites,  and  killed, 
that  it  was  now  easy  surrounding  him.  Therefore, 
upon  the  12th  of  August,  Captain  Church  surrounded 
the  swamp  where  Philip  and  his  men  had  encamped, 
early  in  the  morning,  before  they  had  risen,  doubtless 
led  on  by  an  Indian  who  was  either  compelled  or  hired 
to  turn  traitor.  Church  had  now  placed  his  guard  so 
that  it  was  impossible  for  Philip  to  escape  without  being 
shot.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  whether  they  would 
have  taken  him  if  he  had  not  been  surprised.  Suffice 
it  to  say,  however,  this  was  the  case.  A  sorrowful 
morning  to  the  poor  Indians,  to  lose  such  a  valuable 
man.  When  coming  out  of  the  swamp,  he  was  fired 
upon  by  an  Indian,  and  killed  dead  upon  the  spot. 

I  rejoice  that  it  was  even  so,  that  the  Pilgrims  did 
not  have  the  pleasure  of  tormenting  him.  The  white 
man's  gun  missing  fire  lost  the  honor  of  killing  the  truly 
great  man,  Philip.  The  place  where  Philip  fell  was 
very  muddy.  Upon  this  news,  the  Pilgrims  gave  three 
cheers  ;  then  Church  ordering  his  body  to  be  pulled 
out  of  the  mud,  while  one  of  those  tender-hearted 
Christians  exclaims,  what  a  dirty  creature  he  looks  like. 
And  we  have  also  Church's  speech  upon  that  subject, 


43 

as  follows :  For  as  much  as  be  has  caused  many  a  pil 
grim  to  He  above  ground  unburied,  to  rot,  not  one  of 
bis  bones  shall  be  buried.  With  him  fell  five  of  his 
best  and  most  trusty  men  ;  one  the  son  of  a  chief,  who 
fired  the  first  gun  in  the  war. 

Captain  Church  now  orders  him  to  be  cut  up.  Ac 
cordingly,  he  was  quartered  and  hung  up  upon  four 
trees ;  his  head  arid  one  hand  given  to  the  Indian  who 
shot  him,  to  carry  about  to  show.  At  which  sight  it  so 
overjoyed  the  pilgrims,  that  they  would  give  him  money 
for  it ;  and  in  this  way  obtained  a  considerable  sum. 
After  which,  his  head  was  sent  to  Plymouth,  and  ex 
posed  upon  a  gibbet  for  twenty  years  ;  and  his  hand  to 
Boston,  where  it  was  exhibited  in  savage  triumph  ;  and 
his  mangled  body  denied  a  resting  place  in  the  tomb, 
as  thus  adds  the  poet, 

"  Cold  with  the  beast  he  slew,  he  sleeps, 
O'er  him  no  filial  spirit  weeps." 

I  think  that  as  a  matter  of  honor,  that  1  can  rejoice 
that  no  such  evil  conduct  is  recorded  of  the  Indians  ; 
that  they  never  hung  up  any  of  the  white  warriors,  who 
were  head  men.  And  we  add  the  famous  speech  of 
Dr.  Increase  Mather  ;  he  says,  during  the  bloody  con 
test,  the  pious  fathers  wrestled  hard  and  long  with  their 
God,  in  prayer,  that  he  would  prosper  their  arms,  and 
deliver  their  enemies  into  their  hands.  And  when'upon 
stated  days  of  prayer,  the  Indians  got  the  advantage,  it 
was  considered  as  a  rebuke  of  divine  providence,  (we 
suppose  the  Indian  prayed  best  then,)  which  stimulat 
ed  them  to  more  ardor.  And  on  the  contrary,  when 
they  prevailed,  they  considered  it  as  an  immediate  in- 


49 

terposition  in  their  favor.  The  Doctor  closes  thus : 
Nor  could  they,  the  pilgrims,  cease  crying  to  the  Lord 
against  Philip,  until  they  had  prayed  the  bullet  through 
his  heart.  And  in  speaking  of  the  slaughter  of  Philip's 
people  at  Narraganset,  he  says,  We  have  heard  of  two 
and  twenty  Indian  captains  slain,  all  of  them,  and  brought 
down  to  hell  in  one  day.  Again,  in  speaking  of  a  Chief 
who  had  sneered  at  the  pilgrims'  religion,  and  who  had 
withal,  added  a  most  hideous  blasphemy,  Immediately 
upon  which  a  bullet  took  him  in  the  head,  and  dashed 
out  his  brains,  sending  his  cursed  soul  in  a  moment 
among  the  devils  and  blasphemers  in  hell  forever.  It 
is  true  that  this  language  is  sickening,  and  is  as  true  as 
the  sun  is  in  the  heavens,  that  such  language  was  made 
use  of,  and  it  was  a  common  thing  for  all  the  pilgrims 
to  curse  the  Indians,  according  to  the  order  of  their 
priests.  It  is  also  wonderful  how  they  prayed,  that 
they  should  pray  the  bullet  through  the  Indian's  heart, 
and  their  souls  down  into  hell.  If  I  had  any  faith  in 
such  prayers,  I  should  begin  to  think  that  soon  we  should 
all  be  gone.  However,  if  this  is  the  way  they  pray, 
that  is  bullets  through  people's  hearts,  I  hope  they  will 
not  pray  for  me  ;  1  should  rather  be  excused.  But  to 
say  the  least,  there  is  no  excuse  for  their  ignorance  how 
to  treat  their  enemies,  and  pray  for  them.  If  the  Dr. 
and  his  people  had  only  turned  to  the  23d  of  Luke, 
and  34th  verse,  and  heard  the  words  of  their  Master, 
whom  they  pretended  to  follow,  they  would  see  that 
their  course  did  utterly  condemn  them  ;  or  the  7th  of 
Acts,  and  60th  verse,  and  heard  the  language  of  the 
pious  Stephen,  we  think  it  vastly  different  from  the  pil- 
5 


50 

grims  ;  he  prayed,  Lord,  lay  not  this  sin  to  their  charge. 
No  curses  were  heard  from  these  pious  martyrs. 

I  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  that  through  the  prayers, 
preaching,  and  examples  of  those  pretended  pious,  has 
been  the  foundation  of  all  the  slavery  and  degradation  hi 
the  American  Colonies,  towards  colored  people.  Ex 
perience  has  taught  me  that  this  has  been  a  most  sorry 
and  wretched  doctrine  to  us  poor  ignorant  Indians.  I 
will  mention  two  or  three  things  to  amuse  you  a  little  ; 
that  is,  as  I  was  passing  through  Connecticut,  about  15 
years  ago,  where  they  are  so  pious  that  they  kill  the 
cats  for  killing  rats,  and  whip  the  beer  barrels  for  work 
ing  upon  the  Sabbath,  that  in  a  severe  cold  night,  when 
the  face  of  the  earth  was  one  glare  of  ice,  dark  and 
stormy,  I  called  at  a  man's  house  to  know  if  I  could 
not  stay  with  him,  it  being  about  nine  miles  to  the  house 
where  I  then  lived,  and  knowing  him  to  be  a  rich  man, 
and  with  all  very  pious,  knowing  if  he  had  a  mind  he 
could  do  it  comfortably,  and  with  all  we  were  both  mem 
bers  of  one  church.  My  reception,  however,  was  al 
most  as  cold  as  the  weather,  only  he  did  not  turn  rne 
out  of  doors  ;  if  he  had  I  know  not  but  I  should  have 
frozen  to  death.  My  situation  was  a  little  better  than 
being  out,  for  he  allowed  a  little  wood,  but  no  bed,  be 
cause  I  was  an  Indian.  Another  Christian  asked  me  to 
dine  with  him,  and  put  my  dinner  behind  the  door ;  I 
thought  this  a  queer  compliment  indeed. 

About  two  years  ago,  I  called  at  an  inn  in  Lexington  ; 
and  a  gentleman  present,  not  spying  me  to  be  an  Indian, 
began  to  say  they  ought  to  be  exterminated.  I  took  it 
up  in  our  defence,  though  not  boisterous,  but  coolly  ; 


51 

and  when  we  came  to  retire,  finding  that  I  was  an  In 
dian,  he  was  unwilling  to  sleep  opposite  my  room,  for 
fear  of  being  murdered  before  morning.  We  presume 
his  conscience  plead  guilty.  These  things  I  mention 
to  show  that  the  doctrines  of  the  pilgrims  has  grown  up 
with  the  people. 

But  not  to  forget  Philip  and  his  lady,  and  his  proph 
ecy :  it  is,  (that  is  1671,)  when  Philip  went  to  Bos 
ton,  his  clothing  was  worth  nearly  one  hundred  dollars. 
It  is  said  by  some  of  the  writers  in  those  days,  that  their 
money  being  so  curiously  wrought,  that  neither  Jew 
nor  devil  could  counterfeit  it.  A  high  encomium  upon 
Indian  arts;  and  with  it  they  used  to  adorn  their  Saga 
mores,  in  a  curious  manner.  It  was  said  that  Philip's 
wife  was  neatly  attired  in  the  Indian  style  ;  some  of 
the  white  females  used  to  call  her  a  proud  woman,  be 
cause  she  would  not  bow  down  to  them,  and  was  so 
particular  in  adorning  herself.  Perhaps  while  these  la 
dies  were  so  careful  to  review  the  Queen,  they  had  for 
got  that  she  was  truly  one  of  the  greatest  women  there 
was  among  them,  although  not  quite  so  white.  Bat 
while  we  censure  others  for  their  faults,  in  spending  so 
much  time  to  view  their  fair  and  handsome  features, 
whether  colored  or  white,  we  would  remind  all  the  fair 
sex  it  is  what  they  all  love,  that  is  jewels  and  feathers. 
It  was  what  the  Indian  women  used  to  love,  and  still 
love.  And  customs,  we  presume,  that  the  whites 
brought  from  their  original  savage  fathers,  1000  years 
ago.  Every  white  that  knows  their  own  history,  knows 
there  was  not  a  whit  difference  between  them  and  the 
Indians  of  their  days. 


52 

But  who  was  Philip,  that  made  all  this  display  in  the 
world  ;  that  put  an  enlightened  nation  to  flight,  and  won 
so  many  battles  ?  It  was  a  son  of  nature  ;  with  nature's 
talent  alone.  And  who  did  he  have  to  contend  with  ? 
With  all  the  combined  arts  of  cultivated  talents  of  the 
old  and  new  world.  It  was  like  putting  one  talent 
against  a  thousand.  And  yet  Philip  with  that,  accom 
plished  more  than  all  of  them.  Yea,  he  out-did  the 
well-disciplined  forces  of  Greece,  under  the  command 
of  Philip,  the  Grecian  Emperor ;  for  he  never  was 
enabled  to  lay  such  plans  of  allying  the  tribes  of  the 
earth  together,  as  Philip  of  Mount  Hope  did.  And 
even  Napoleon  patterned  after  him,  in  collecting  his 
forces  and  surprising  the  enemy.  Washington,  too, 
pursued  many  of  his  plans  in  attacking  the  enemy,  and 
thereby  enabled  him  to  defeat  his  antagonists  and  con 
quer  them.  What,  then,  shall  we  say ;  shall  we  not 
do  right  to  say  that  Philip,  with  his  one  talent,  out-strips 
them  all  with  their  ten  thousand  ?  No  warrior  of  aay 
age,  was  ever  known  to  pursue  such  plans  as  Philip 
did.  And  it  is  well  known  that  Church  and  nobody 
else  Gould  have  conquered,  if  his  people  had  not  used 
treachery,  which  was  owing  to  their  ignorance  ;  and 
after  all,  it  is  a  fact,  that  it  was  not  the  pilgrims  that 
conquered  him,  it  was  Indians.  And  as  to  his  benevo 
lence,  it  was  very  great ;  no  one  in  history  can  accuse 
Philip  of  being  cruel  to  his  conquered  foes  ;  that  he 
used  them  with  more  hospitality  than  they,  the  pilgrims 
did,  cannot  be  denied  ;  and  that  he  had  knowledge  and 
forethought,  cannot  be  denied.  As  Mr.  Gooking,  in 
speaking  of  Philip  says,  that  he  was  a  man  of  good  un- 


53 

derstanding  and  knowledge  in  the  best  things.  Mr. 
Gooking  it  appears  was  a  benevolent  man,  and  a  friend 
to  Indians. 

How  deep  then  was  the  thought  of  Philip,  when  he 
could  look  from  Maine  to  Georgia,  and  from  the  ocean 
to  the  lakes,  and  view  with  one  look  all  his  brethren 
withering  before  the  more  enlightened  to  come  ;  and 
how  true  his  prophesy,  that  the  white  people  would  not 
only  cut  down  their  groves,  but  would  enslave  them. 
Had  the  inspiration  of  Isaiah  been  there,  he  could  not 
have  been  more  correct.  Our  groves  and  hunting 
grounds  are  gone,  our  dead  are  dug  up,  our  council- 
fires  are  put  out,  and  a  foundation  was  laid  in  the  first 
Legislature,  to  enslave  our  people,  by  taking  from  them 
all  rights  which  has  been  strictly  adhered  to  ever  since. 
Look  at  the  disgraceful  laws,  disfranchising  us  as  citi 
zens.  Look  at  the  treaties  made  by  Congress,  all  bro 
ken.  Look  at  the  deep-rooted  plans  laid,  when  a  ter 
ritory  becomes  a  State,  that  after  so  many  years,  the 
laws  shall  be  extended  over  the  Indians  that  live  within 
their  boundaries.  Yea,  every  charter  that  has  been 
given,  was  given  with  the  view  of  driving  the  Indians 
out  of  the  States,  or  dooming  them  to  become  chained 
under  desperate  laws,  that  would  make  them  drag  out 
a  miserable  life  as  one  chained  to  the  galley  ;  and  this 
is  the  course  that  has  been  pursued  for  nearly  two  hun 
dred  years.  A  fire,  a  canker,  created  by  the  pilgrims 
from  across  the  Atlantic,  to  burn  and  destroy  my  poor 
unfortunate  brethren,  and  it  cannot  be  denied.  What 
then  shall  we  do,  shall  we  cease  crying,  and  say  it  is 
all  wrong,  or  shall  we  bury  the  hatchet  and  those  unjust 
5* 


54 

laws,  and  Plymouth  Rock  together,  and  become  friends. 
And  will  the  sons  of  the  pilgrims  aid  in  putting  out  the 
fire  and  destroying  the  canker  that  will  ruin  all  that  their 
fathers  left  behind  them  to  destroy  ?  (by  this  we  see 
how  true  Philip  spake.)  If  so,  we  hope  we  shall  not 
hear  it  said  from  ministers  and  church  members,  that  we 
are  so  good  no  other  people  can  live  with  us,  as  you 
know  it  is  a  common  thing  for  them  to  say,  Indians 
cannot  live  among  Christian  people  ;  no,  even  the  Pres 
ident  of  the  United  States  tells  the  Indians  they  cannot 
live  among  civilized  people,  and  we  want  your  lands, 
and  must  have  them,  and  will  have  them.  As  if  he 
had  said  to  them,  we  want  your  lands  for  our  use  to 
speculate  upon,  it  aids  us  in  paying  off  our  national 
debt  and  supporting  us  in  Congress,  to  drive  you  off. 

You  see,  my  red  children,  that  our  fathers  carried  on 
this  scheme  of  getting  your  lands  for  our  use,  and  we 
have  now  become  rich  and  powerful ;  and  we  have  a 
right  to  do  with  you  just  as  we  please  ;  we  claim  to  be 
your  fathers.  And  we  think  we  shall  do  you  a  great 
favor,  my  dear  sons  and  daughters,  to  drive  you  out,  to 
get  you  away  out  of  the  reach  of  our  civilized  people, 
who  are  cheating  you,  for  we  have  no  law  to  reach 
them,  we  cannot  protect  you  although  you  be  our  chil 
dren.  So  it  is  no  use,  you  need  not  cry,  you  must  go, 
even  if  the  lions  devour  you,  for  we  promised  the  land 
you  have  to  somebody  else  long  ago,  perhaps  twenty 
or  thirty  years  ;  and  we  did  it  without  your  consent, 
it  is  true.  But  this  has  been  the  way  our  fathers  first 
brought  us  up,  and  it  is  hard  to  depart  from  it ;  there- 
ibre  you  shall  have  no  protection  from  us.  Now  while 


55 

we  sum  up  this  subject.  Does  it  not  appear  that  ihe  - 
cause  of  all  wars  from  beginning  to  end,  was  and  is -for 
the  want  of  good  usage  ?  That  the  whites  have  always 
been  the  aggressors,  and  the  wars,  cruelties  and  blood 
shed  is  a  job  of  their  own  seeking,  and  not  the  Indians  ? 
Did  you  ever  know  of  Indians'  hurting  those  who  was 
kind  to  them  ?  No.  We  have  a  thousand  witnesses 
to  the  contrary.  Yea,  every  male  and  female  declare 
it  to  be  the  fact.  We  often  hear  of  the  wars  breaking 
out  upon  the  frontiers,  and  it  is  because  the  same  spirit 
reigns  there  that  reigned  here  in  New  England ;  and 
wherever  there  are  any  Indians,  that  spirit  still  reigns ; 
and  at  present,  there  is  no  law  to  stop  it.  What,  then, 
is  to  be  done  ;  let  every  friend  of  the  Indians  now 
seize  the  mantle  of  Liberty  and  throw  it  over  those 
burning  elements  that  has  spread  wkh  such  fearful  ra 
pidity,  and  at  once  extinguish  them  forever.  It  is  true, 
that  now  and  then  a  feeble  voice  has  been  raised  in  our 
favor.  Yes,  we  might  speak  of  distinguished  men,  but 
they  fall  so  far  short  in  the  minority,  that  it  is  heard  but 
at  a  small  distance.  We  want  trumpets  that  sound  like 
thunder,  and  men  to  act  as  though  they  were  going  at 
war  with  those  corrupt  and  degrading  principles  that 
robs  one  of  all  rights,  merely  because  he  is  ignorant, 
and  of  a  little  different  color.  Let  us  have  principles 
•that  will  give  every  one  his  due  ;  and  then  shall  wars 
cease,  and  the  weary  find  rest.  Give  the  Indian  his 
rights,  and  you  may  be  assured  war  will  cease. 

But,  by  this  time  you  have  been  enabled  to  see  that 
Philip's  prophesy  has  come  to  pass  ;  therefore,  as  a 
.man  of  natural  abilities,  1  shall  pronounce  him  the 


56 

greatest  man  that  was  ever  in  America  ;  and  so  it  will 
stand,  until  he  is  proved  to  the  contrary,  to  the  ever 
lasting  disgrace  of  the  pilgrims'  fathers. 

We  will  now  give  you  his  language  in  the  Lord's 
Prayer. 

Noo-chun  kes-uk-qut-tiam-at-am  unch  koo-we-su- 
onk,  kuk-ket-as-soo-tam-oonk  pey-au-moo-utch,  keet- 
te-nan-tam-oo-onk  ne  nai ;  ne-ya-ne  ke-suk-qutkah  oh- 
ke-it ;  aos-sa-ma-i-in-ne-an  ko-ko-ke-suk-o-da-e  nut-as- 
e-suk-ok-ke  fu-tuk-qun-neg  ;  kah  ah-quo-an-tam-a-i-in- 
ne-an  rium-match-e-se-ong-an-on-ash,  ne-match-ene- 
na-mun  wonk  neet-ah-quo-antarn-au-o-un-non-og  nish- 
noh  pasuk  noo-na-mortuk-quoh-who-nan,  kah  chaque 
sag-kom-pa-ginne-an  en  qutch-e-het-tu-ong-a-nit,  qut 
poh-qud-wus-sin-ne-an  watch  match-i-tut. 

Having  now  given  historical  facts,  and  an  exposition 
in  relation  to  ancient  times,  by  which  we  have  been 
enabled  to  discover  the  foundation  which  destroyed  our 
common  fathers,  in  their  struggle  together ;  it  was  in 
deed  nothing  more  than  the  spirit  of  avarice  and  usur 
pation  of  power,  that  has  brought  people  in  all  ages  to 
hate  and  devour  each  other.  And  I  cannot  for  one 
moment  look  back  upon  what  is  past,  and  call  it  religion. 
No,  it  has  not  the  least  appearance  like  it.  Do  not 
then  wonder,  my  dear  friends,  at  my  bold  and  unpol 
ished  statements ;  though  I  do  not  believe  that  truth 
wants  any  polishing  whatever.  And  I  can  assure  you, 
that  T  have  no  design  to  tell  an  untruth,  but  facts  alone. 
Oft  have  I  been  surprised  at  the  conduct  of  those  who 
pretend  to  be  Christians,  to  see  how  they  were  affected 
towards  those  who  were  of  a  different  cast,  professing 


57 

one  faith.  Yes,  the  spirit  of  degradation  has  always 
been  exercised  towards  us  poor  and  untaught  people. 
If  we  cannot  read,  we  can  see  and  feel ;  and  we  find 
no  excuse  in  the  Bible  for  Christians  conducting  to 
wards  us  as  they  do. 

It  is  said  that  in  the  Christian's  guide,  that  God  is 
merciful,  and  they  that  are  his  followers  are  like  him. 
How  much  mercy  do  you  think  has  been  shown  towards 
Indians,  their  wives  and  their  children  ?  Not  much,  we 
think.  No.  And  ye  fathers,  I  will  appeal  to  you  that 
are  white.  Have  you  any  regard  for  your  wives  and 
children,  for  those  delicate  sons  and  daughters  ?  Would 
you  like  to  see  them  slain  and  laid  in  heaps,  and  their 
bodies  devoured  by  the  vultures  and  wild  beasts  of 
prey  ?  and  their  bones  bleaching  in  the  sun  and  air,  till 
they  moulder  away,  or  were  covered  by  the  falling 
leaves  of  the  forest,  and  not  resist  ?  No.  Your  hearts 
would  break  with  grief,  and  with  all  the  religion  and 
knowledge  you  have,  it  would  not  impede  your  force 
to  take  vengeance  upon  your  foe,  that  had  so  cruelly 
conducted  thus,  although  God  has  forbid  you  in  so  do 
ing.  For  he  has  said,  vengeance  is  mine,  and  I  will 
repay.  What,  then,  my  dear  affectionate  friends,  can 
you  think  of  those  who  have  been  so  often  betrayed, 
routed  and  stripped  of  all  they  possess,  of  all  their 
kindred  in  the  flesh  ?  Can,  or  do  you  think  we 
have  no  feeling  ?  The  speech  of  Logan,  the  white 
man's  friend,  is  no  doubt  fresh  in  your  memory,  that 
he  intended  to  live  and  die  the  friend  of  the  white 
man  ;  that  he  always  fed  them  and  gave  them  the 
best  his  cabin  afforded  ;  and  he  appealed  to  them  if 


53 

they  had  not  been  well  used  ;  to  which  they  never 
denied.  After  which,  they  murdered  all  of  his  family 
in  cool  blood  ;  which  roused  his  passions  to  be  reveng 
ed  upon  the  whites.  This  circumstance  is  but  one  in 
a  thousand. 

Upon  the  banks  of  Ohio,  a  party  of  two  hundred 
white  warriors,  in  1757,  or  about  that  time,  came  across 
a  settlement  of  Christian  Indians,  and  falsely  accused 
them  of  being  warriors  ;  to  which  they  denied,  but  all 
to  no  purpose  ;  they  were  determined  to  massacre  them 
all.  They,  the  Indians,  then  asked  liberty  to  prepare 
for  the  fatal  hour.  The  white  savages  then  gave  them 
one  hour,  as  the  historian  said.  They  then  prayed  to 
gether;  and  in  tears  and  cries,  upon  their  knees,  begged 
pardon  of  each  other,  of  all  they  had  done.  After 
which,  they  informed  the  white  savages  that  they 
were  now  ready.  One  white  man  then  begun  with  a 
mallet,  and  knocked  them  down,  and  continued  his 
work  until  he  had  killed  fifteen,  with  his  own  hand ; 
then  saying  it  ached,  he  gave  his  commission  to  another. 
And  thus  they  continued  till  they  had  massacred  nearly 
ninety  men,  women  and  children,  all  these  innocent  of 
any  crime.  What  sad  tales  are  these  for  us  to  look 
upon  the  massacre  of  our  dear  fathers,  mothers,  brothers 
and  sisters ;  and  if  we  speak,  we  are  then  called  sava 
ges  for  complaining.  Our  affections  for  each  other,  are 
the  same  as  yours  ',  we  think  as  much  of  ourselves  as 
you  do  of  yourselves.  When  our  children  are  sick,  we 
do  all  we  can  for  them  ;  they  lie  buried  deep  in  our 
affections  ;  if  they  die,  we  remember  it  long,  and  mourn 
in  after  years.  Children  also  cleave  to  their  parents  ; 


59 

they  look  to  them  for  aid,  they  do  the  best  they  know 
how  to  do  for  each  other ;  and  when  strangers  come 
among  us,  we  use  them  as  well  as  we  know  how  ;  we 
feel  honest  in  whatever  we  do,  we  have  no  desire  to 
offend  any  one.  But  when  we  are  so  deceived,  it  spoils 
all  our  confidence  in  our  visitors.  And  although  I  can 
say  that  I  have  some  dear,  good  friends  among  white 
people,  yet  i  eye  them  with  a  jealous  eye,  for  fear  they 
will  betray  me.  Having  been  deceived  so  much  by 
them,  how  can  I  help  it ;  being  brought  up  to  look 
upon  white  people  as  being  enemies  and  not  friends, 
and  by  the  whites  treated  as  such,  who  can  wonder  ? 
Yes,  in  vain  have  I  looked  for  the  Christian  to  take  me 
by  the  hand  and  bid  me  welcome  to  his  cabin,  as  my 
fathers  did  them,  before  we  were  born  ;  and  if  they  did, 
it  was  only  to  satisfy  curiosity,  and  not  to  look  upon  me 
as  a  man  and  a  Christian.  And  so  all  of  my  people 
have  been  treated,  whether  Christians  or  not.  I  say 
then,  a  different  course  must  be  pursued,  and  different 
kws  must  be  enacted,  and  all  men  must  operate  under 
one  general  law.  And  while  you  ask  yourselves,  what 
do  they,  the  Indians,  want  ?  you  have  only  to  look  at  J 
the  unjust  laws  made  for  them,  and  say  they  want  what 
I  want,  in  order  to  make  men  of  them,  good  and  whole 
some  citizens.  And  this  plan  ought  to  be  pursued  by 
all  missionaries,  or  not  pursued  at  all.  That  is  not  only 
to  make  Christians  of  us,  but  men  ;  which  plan  as  yet 
has  never  been  pursued.  And  when  it  is,  I  will  then 
throw  my  might  upon  the  side  of  missions,  and  do  what 
I  can  to  favor  it.  But  this  work  must  begin  here  first, 
in  New  England. 


60 

Having  now  closed,  I  would  say  that  many  thanks  is 
due  from  me  to  you,  though  an  unworthy  speaker,  for 
your  kind  attention  ;  and  I  wish  you  to  understand  that 
wo  are  thankful  for  every  favor ;  and  you  and  I  have 
to  rejoice  that  we  have  not  to  answer  for  our  fathers' 
crimes,  neither  shall  we  do  right  to  charge  them  one  to 
another.  We  can  only  regret  it,  and  flee  from  it,  and 
from  hejiceforth,  let  peace  and  righteousness  be  writ,  m 
apon  our  hearts  and  hands  forever,  "is  the  wish  of  a 
poor  Indian. 


ERRATA. 

IB  the  Frontispiece,  the  man  at  the  head  of  PHILIP,  should  be  an 
Indian.... Page  12,  ninth  line  from  bottom,  read  did,  instead  of  do.... 
Page  23,  first  line  of  the  Poetry,  read  A  mighty,  instead  of  Almighty. 


M530823 


•  67 


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